Author: rshell18
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AGING GRACEFULLY?
Like many of you, I have heard the phrase “aging gracefully” used many times. From my perspective, the words aging and gracefully are not compatible. Here are some reasons why I feel this way: I am definitely aging, and I am still somewhat graceful, but “aging gracefully”? I don’t think so.
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Annoying Intervention
This afternoon I sent an email to a family member explaining that in addition to ordering a replacement sink stopper from the manufacturer, I also ordered a generic part which might get to them faster. I have no idea how my email ended up being rewritten by AI. Please note that I added everything after…
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MYSTERY ENVELOPE
Last week around 9:30 p.m., I received a message from the person who purchased my home seven years ago. The text stated that she received some mail addressed to me and the attached photo clearly indicated that it was important. The item would be waiting for me in her mailbox. Seeing the words United States…
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ARE YOU SMARTER THAN YOUR DOG?
I would like to think that I am smarter than my dog. I can accept the fact that Bella can outrun me, outstare me, and that she can grab a sock and hide it before I even realize it is missing. Our dog initially learned that if she tapped the string of bells on our…
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YOU GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS
Once again, my friends have unknowingly provided me with the content for a post. Our conversations often sound like they were created by comedy writers because these women all have great intellect combined with lightening fast wit. Their skills result in lengthy text chains which reflect humor, sarcasm, or both. The following texts are verbatim…
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SENIOR HOUSING
The title of this post may sound like I am referring to houses for seniors. What I am actually writing about is the similarities between seniors and old houses. I recently purchased a fifty-year-old home. The house only had one owner, and although a few upgrades had been made, it has mostly original features. Think…
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WHAT’S IN A NAME?
When people decide on a name for their baby, there are many diverse reasons why they choose a particular name. My parents named me after a famous actress whose movie career spanned from 1940 to 1960. I was never sure why – all I know is that the choice of my name was my father’s…
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HERE I GO AGAIN
Last year I promised myself that I would not voluntarily commit to any more projects that involved cabinets, painting, plumbing, or electrical rewiring. Not only did I break that promise, but I am currently doing all of the above and more – all in the same time frame. It is now at the point where…
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PRESS N SEAL
It has been over four months since my husband had open heart surgery. We will always be grateful for the incredible care he received and for the heart pump that has created our “new normal.” I now have a responsibility which is easy and somewhat amusing. Every time he takes a shower, I “cut and…
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TO MY GRANDSON
In a matter of weeks, my grandson will be graduating from elementary school. As a former teacher, I have immense gratitude for the quality of his education throughout the past six years. These experiences have enabled him to develop his strong academic abilities and to truly become a person of character. While watching our children…
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DOG WALKER
Typically, the definition of a walker is someone who walks, especially for exercise or enjoyment. In our home the word walker refers to the medical device which enables my husband to move freely in our home while giving him the means to regain his endurance following surgery. Our dog, Bella, did not adjust well to…
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LET THEM
I recently found a book titled LET THEM by Mel Robbins, which as it turns out has been highly praised by several people I know. The premise of the book is that we let other people affect the way we act, think, and feel too much of the time. As a result, we are unhappy…
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AGING WITH HUMOR
This post is about having a bad hair day – actually about having about a week of bad hair days. Generally I am not a person who is overly concerned about how my hair looks- just ask anyone who walks behind me. My effort begins and ends with the front of my head and I…
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M.I.A.
Dear Readers, Due to a family health crisis I will not be posting for the next few weeks. With Gratitude, Living Life
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TRASHCAN DERBY
We live in a windy city – make that an extremely windy city. It is not unusual to be woken up at night by the sound of howling (non-dog related) and thoughts that “We are not in Kansas anymore.” As a result, our neighbors are used to the tops of city trashcans blowing off and…
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MEDICATION MANIA
Many of us have created treasured collections throughout our lifetimes. Art collections, clothing collections, and travel souvenir collections. As we have grown older, we have added one involuntary collection – medications. It seems like every year we add another type of medicine to the assorted containers residing on our bathroom countertops. A few weeks ago,…
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ALUMINUM FOIL
I have lived in my current home for over four years. When I first moved in, I organized every closet and cabinet in ways that reflected my need for order. For the most part, my decisions were logical and user friendly. The one glaring exception was the drawer that contains food storage materials, which is…
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SMALL NONPOLITICAL VICTORY
Most of us have reached the stage of life where we are happy to live without fanfare or drama and just want to feel good about whatever we are doing. Small challenges keep life interesting and small successes are rewarding. Many years ago, 40 to be precise, I visited Palm Springs with my best friend.…
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MY MOVIE REVIEW
My ten-year-old grandson’s overnight visit, which included chocolate chip pancakes, an origami penguin, and a pinball machine, ended with an incredible movie experience. Although the trailers display adorable little animals and a friendly robot, this film is not recommended for young children due to the recurring themes of death, abandonment, and revenge. In spite of…
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A LIFETIME GOAL
I generally find a concept to write about each week. In the event that no topic comes to mind, I occasionally make the decision to review the suggestions made by my publishing platform. When that happens, I always hope that my iPad can used for something besides downloading another dessert recipe which uses only three…
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JUST CALL ME
For those of you who are finding that you cannot locate your cell phone in your home, I literally hear you. What used to be an occasional problem is occurring on a regular basis. My solution is definitely not cost effective, but it is useful. I just call myself on a landline that I maintain…
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IN THE LOST AND FOUND
My husband and I attended a Beach Boys concert last week. As we were waiting for the event to begin, a large screen began displaying colorful ads for all of the upcoming concerts. As each group name came across the screen neither of us could recognized the performers. Out of approximately twelve names, only one…
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POWER OFF
A few days ago we lost the electricity in our home. We assumed that just like previous experiences, power would be restored somewhat quickly. Being as it was only one o’clock in the afternoon, there was no rush to locate the multitude of flashlights and mini lanterns stored in various closets and drawers. By five…
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CHANGE OF PLANS
I have published 136 posts since starting this blog. When I first began, I wrote two posts per week and eventually limited my writing to once a week. I am honestly not sure if my life has become less eventful or less humorous lately, or both. My initial purpose for beginning this blog was to…
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ANT POLITICS
As most of you know, when ants invade your living space, it is not pleasant. Exterminators can do a good job of eliminating insects, but they can be expensive and the chemicals used are sometimes questionable. In my quest to eliminate the rapidly growing trail of black dots, whose source appeared to be inside the…
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HANGING UP MY HARD HAT
I am finally on my last kitchen remodeling project. I was counting on purchasing a new microwave and having it installed being a quick and easy thing to do. My experience dealing with anything related to construction is extremely limited, which means that I can replace a toilet seat. The reason for purchasing a new…
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GUARD DOG
Like many of you, I often have conversations with my dog. She is a great listener, as evidenced by the intense way that she looks directly in my eyes regardless of the topic of my conversation. Occasionally, she tilts her head to the side which I interpret as her quest to understand my words, but…
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UNEVENTFUL WEEK
I have been writing blog posts for over two years, and as far as I know, the topics have not been duplicated. Life has provided me with a wealth of incidents, stories, and adventures to make each post unique. As those of you who follow my blog each week know, although most posts are published…
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A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS
I have read many posts on Facebook about random acts of kindness. Our world provides numerous opportunities to show compassion to others on a daily basis and last night one of those opportunities presented itself. My husband and I were finishing our meal at a local restaurant when he noticed a man walk in. I…
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STAYING IN THE MOMENT
I love phrases that encourage people to stay in the moment. Personally, I have a hard time living in the present – but I try. Here are a few of my favorite quotes. Stay present. You’ll always have time to worry later on if you want to. Today I will live in the moment –…
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CUSTOMER SERVICE?
A few days ago, I decided to use some of my credit card points to make a reservation at a hotel. The process seemed easy enough – check your online account to determine how many points you have accrued, decide which hotel you want, and call with any questions. The first two parts of that…
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WASTE MANAGEMENT
Today was one of those rare days when I do not have anything I need to do – no appointments, no UPS returns, and no piles of laundry staring at me. It was a good “clean out the bathroom drawers” kind of day. After memories of cleaning my mother’s bathroom prior to selling her house,…
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THE REAL DODGER DOGS
Contrary to the title, this post is not about eating hot dogs at Dodger Stadium. Personally, I am not a fan of hot dogs, but when mustard and relish are added, I am happy to participate in this long-standing tradition. Last week we attended a Dodger game. In order to secure a good parking spot,…
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ETA
For the longest time I had no clue as to what ETA meant. I use the navigation system in my car on a regular basis, which means that I turn it on almost every time I back out of the driveway. It is not that I have a bad sense of direction – it is…
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PARTNERS FOR LIFE
Last night we attended a beautiful wedding. The venue was enchanting, and the bride and groom’s love for each other was pure and magical. My favorite part of a wedding is always the exchanging of vows. The vows that were shared last night reflected the importance of being a good partner. The defining characteristics of…
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CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
At three o’clock in the morning, I was awakened up by a chirping sound. I knew that no self-respecting bird would be up at that hour, and that the smoke alarm batteries had all been replaced recently. Being as I was hiding under the covers while trying to figure out where the rhythmical high pitch…
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ANOTHER MOTHER’S DAY
Despite the fact that some people believe that many holidays were started by Hallmark, Mother’s Day was actually created in 1908 by a woman who simply wanted to honor her own mother. The Hallmark company was started in 1910 by a young boy who began selling postcards. I am sure that neither of these individuals…
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WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS
As many of you know, I am not a person who loves traveling. Unlike many people, I have no interest in trips to exotic locations and I have no bucket list for places to visit. We decided to fly to Vegas to see a Barry Manilow concert. We decided to fly, as opposed to driving,…
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DON’T BUG ME!
As grandparents, many of us are able to spend time enjoying our young grandchildren on a regular basis. We experience taking them on adventures, playing with them, and helping them with anything they need. Throughout the years, I have been lucky to have had shared many celebrations, lunches and dinners, in addition to other activities…
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A GREAT DAY
For some people, a great day involves a special event. My definition of a great day means no stress (ok, very little stress) and several positive outcomes of any kind. Here is a list of the events which led up to my great day: I was able to sleep in late since I did not…
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DUCK, DUCK, CRUISE
Over 20 million people travel on cruise ships for vacations each year. These adventures can be as short as three days or as long as several months, depending on the individual’s finances, availability, and resistance to seasickness. I am a card-carrying member of the “if it moves, I lose” club, which means that I am…
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SECOND CHANCES
In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about all of the cooking appliances that I have purchased. Several of them have not been used in years and yet I still feel compelled to let them live on my kitchen counter even though I may never use them again. I bought an air fryer a…
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THINGS WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND
In our complicated world, there are so many things we don’t understand – how meteorologists predict clear skies minutes before it starts hailing, why dogs keep trying to play with humans who dislike them, and my personal choice – other people, just to name a few. We are surrounded by humans from the minute we…
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SUPERSTITIOUS
By definition, a superstition is any belief or practice that is considered to be irrational, supernatural, or the reaction to a fear of that which is unknown. Some of us were taught so many of these beliefs, that it is amazing that we manage to use umbrellas, to walk on cracked sidewalks, and to function…
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STAYING SAFE
A few years ago, my husband and I decided that, in light of increasing crime rates, earthquakes, and floods, it would be a good idea to purchase a home safe. We chose a location which was accessible, but hidden. It was in fact so well hidden that we completely forgot about it for several years.…
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NOT SINGING IN THE RAIN
A few days ago, I attended a lovely bridal shower. I have not been to a shower recently, being that most of my friends have children who were married many years ago. It turned out that there were actually two showers going on – the one inside and the one outside. I have lived in…
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BINGE WATCHING
I generally watch very little television. My husband and I usually find a series that seems interesting and watch one episode at a time together. I have heard the term binge watching, but never experienced it – until last week. I found myself sitting in front of the tv and enjoying many back to back…
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THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
I just finished a project that was delayed for years. Many decisions needed to be made, and timing was an issue. The results are beautiful, and I knew that I would feel happy to have finally completed the most difficult part of remodeling a kitchen. What I didn’t expect to experience was old feelings of…
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A MILLION PIECES
Last week, the handyman I hired unfortunately made a bad decision to drill a small hole in the corner of a glass sliding door frame. This resulted in one of the huge glass doors shattering into what appeared to be a million tiny pieces. The once clear glass was now completely opaque and ready to…
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JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE
I just lost my coveted position as a person who has remained COVID-free for the past four years. If you find some grammatical errors or syntax that resembles a fourth-grader’s writing skills in this post, please accept these issues as a result of brain fog. I am not sure if that is a real thing, but…
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IT’S A DOG’S LIFE
A few weeks ago, several cute and very well-behaved canines were sitting near us during an outdoor brunch with our family. One of the dogs gave a few soft barks which prompted me to ask our four-year-old grandchild if he had any idea what the dog was actually saying. Somehow this question led to a very…
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A BLOG ABOUT NOTHING
When people ask me what I write about in my blog, sometimes I just say that it is really about nothing. The majority of my posts are about mundane, everyday events – no travel to exotic places, no life changing revelations, and no solutions to difficult problems. This post is consistent with that comment. Last week’s…
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A LOSING BATTLE
Even though my hairdresser does a great job of covering every strand of my now gray hair once a month, it is an ongoing job to keep them from showing. I am sure that many of you can identify with this annoying problem. The timeline is always the same. During week one, all the gray hairs hide…
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BON VOYAGE
It has been thirty years since I have been on a cruise, unless you count the submarine ride at Disneyland. There is a very simple reason why I avoid this popular vacation choice – I get seasick. In the past I have made many attempts to avoid this unpleasant side effect via prescription patches, wristbands, acupuncture,…
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NEW YEAR’S DAY
Today is January 1, 2024. Now that it is officially the new year, it is time to wrap up the “paperwork” from 2023. ”Paperwork” is the euphemistic term for several months of credit card statements, bank statements, and assorted unopened envelopes which have yet to be filed. At the end of each year, I pull out multiple…
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SLOW MOTION DINNER
On Christmas, we decided to join a very large party of friends who were meeting for dinner at a local restaurant. Due to the number of people, we occupied four tables which were all next to each other. We arrived at 5 p.m., anticipating a good experience. Here is a timeline of the evening: Everyone was seated…
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MANY HAPPY RETURNS?
It is the week before Christmas, which means that I have issued my annual restraining order to avoid malls – any type of mall to be exact until January 1. UPS stores are fine, the market is fine, but the mall is not. Due to the fact that in a moment of weakness and believing that…
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PASSWORD MANIA
A few days ago I received a message on my phone that some of my passwords (twenty-eight to be exact) may have been involved in a security exposure. In light of this possibility, it seemed like a good idea to create new passwords for these sites. I armed myself with a large cup of coffee…
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HOLIDAY GIFT LIST
I started our holiday gift list in October so that I could take my time and buy gifts that were hopefully useful and thoughtful. Every gift was purchased online, which meant that I could make my choices any time of the day without driving to a mall. Like many of you, my favorite gifts to…
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DRESS FOR SUCCESS?
Unlike many women, I do not like wearing dresses. Whenever possible, they are my last choice. The majority of the time I wear jeans, pantsuits, or jumpsuits. There are, however, rare times when I will choose to wear a dress. Recently, one of my friends invited us to her 75th birthday party. She did not…
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CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED
It is hard to believe that this is my one hundredth post. I began this blog as a way to fulfill my lifetime goal of writing on a public forum. I had no idea what I would write about, and I still have no idea how long I will continue this blog. Finding humor in…
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A NEW MINDSET
At a recent medical appointment, our cardiologist issued a strong warning regarding the outcome of my husband’s food choices. In support of his new eating habits, I recently purchased a whole wheat pancake mix. Apparently, I was so busy reading the ingredient list that I did not see the words “chocolate chips” on the front…
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LET THE GAMES BEGIN
We recently decided to buy some board games for our four-year-old grandchild’s birthday, since I recently learned about a new category of games available for young children called cooperative games. Cooperative board games are games in which players work together to achieve a common goal instead of competing against each other. This helps them learn how…
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WAKE UP CALL
As we get older, our bodies change in ways that are often visually apparent. Our once smooth, glossy dark brown hair turns gray and takes on the qualities of a bird’s nest. Dark spots appear out of nowhere and concealer becomes an auto renew item on our Amazon accounts. So many changes occur – annoying…
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NO PASSPORT REQUIRED
Many of my friends love to travel around the world. When I tell them that the only locations outside of the United States that I have visited are Aruba and Canada, they appear shocked and often ask why I have never traveled to Europe or Asia. The reality is simple – I never wanted to.…
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LIFE ISN’T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORMS TO PASS
This blog post will be shorter than my usual posts. At this particular time I am having difficulty maintaining a “light” attitude with negative things that are happening. In addition to the devastating world events that are taking place, I am feeling overwhelmed with the fear of losing a very close friend to illness. According…
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THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR
As many of you know, the Furbo dog camera can be a very helpful tool for keeping tabs on your furry friend. It can alert you to excessive barking, crying, and on occasion, your dog taking selfies. However, a recent experience with Furbo was neither helpful nor amusing. We were headed home on a crowded…
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COOKIE CHAOS
As I have mentioned in prior posts, baking is an activity that I truly enjoy. There is just something comforting about watching a mixer blend sugar and butter together with other ingredients to create a fragrant, soft, malleable dough. Cookie decorating is, however, an entirely different experience. I love the photos of beautiful cookies covered…
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DANCE LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING
My husband really likes the music of the sixties while my favorites are from the seventies.. Through the seven years we have been together, we have attending many concerts from these two musical periods. I recently met a lovely new person in my women’s group who told me about a local sixties musician. She asked…
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LONGEVITY
As I mentioned in a previous post, I spend a fair amount of time in an anticipatory state of mind which leads to overthinking. Whether I was genetically programmed for this or if my upbringing is responsible is a debatable topic. I have been told more than once (ok, maybe many times) that I have…
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I’VE SEEN FIRE AND I’VE SEEN GLASS
When you are looking for a hands-on birthday gift for a friend who is an accomplished crafter, you need to think outside the box. Luckily, we found just the right venue – a fire glass studio. Once we finished viewing the myriad of amazing glass creations displayed, the studio owner give us the choice of…
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THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
My husband and I started to plan a karaoke party at our house just before the pandemic, but of course it took years to actually occur. According to the people whose off-key voices and hysterical antics graced our home, it was worth the wait. Several of our guests came for the pizza, lasagne, and dessert…
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GUILT
They say that guilt is a useless emotion, and yet most of us experience this uncomfortable feeling throughout our lives. Sometimes our minds create guilt, and other times the people around us instill it through their actions or words. Even those individuals who can brush off emotions more easily find themselves feeling like they have…
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WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG
When I first began this blog, I had no idea what I would write about or how many posts I would create. We were in the depths of the pandemic, and life as we knew it was at a standstill. So many of my posts have focused on trivial topics, in contrast to the numerous…
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THANK YOU, USPS !
Most of us have complained at times about the postal service due to lost mail, long lines at post offices, or the amount of time it takes to receive mail. On average, the postal service processes and delivers 23.8 million packages each day. On average, the postal service processes 4,877 pieces of mail each second. The Postal…
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BARBIE DOLLS
Due to the release of a new movie about Barbie, this iconic doll has received a tremendous amount of media attention. Whether her hair is brown or blonde, regardless of her pretty clothing or lack of clothing, she has been the standard for beauty and perfection for many generations of women. The fact that very…
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HUMMINGBIRD DON’T FLY AWAY
Hummingbirds are often associated with hope, good luck, and joy. In reality, they are fascinating little creatures who delight us with their agility and speed. Last week, we decided that having a hummingbird feeder would be interesting. Prior to investing time and money, I did some research and learned that “hummers” can remember the locations…
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ACCESSORIES TO A CRIME?
A few weeks ago, we met friends at a local restaurant for dinner. My husband and I have been to this restaurant many times, and although the servers are all really efficient and friendly, there is one who stands out. His sense of humor and warmth make him a true favorite which is why we…
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IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE
Let me start this post by stating that I have never had a strong interest in home remodeling projects. My forte is spending hours organizing the contents of cabinets and drawers, but the closest experience I have had with sanding and painting is getting my nails done. Last month, with the help of a handyman…
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IT’S IN THE GENES
I am starting to believe that there is an actual baking gene. My mother was an excellent baker and luckily she kept a small file box filled with weathered baking recipes from local newspapers, along with many handwritten recipes on small index cards. Years later, being as I also truly enjoyed baking, I typed the…
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CHECK THIS OUT
Up until recently, when people spoke about the market, they were usually referring to the stock market. Times have changed, and we now have a new topic of conversation – the supermarket. As many of you have noticed, the number of people working at checkout counters has dwindled considerably while the number of self-checkout stations…
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FINDING A DATE
This post is not about finding a person to date – it is literally about four women trying to find a date to meet for lunch. It seems like this should be an easy task, but so far it has been an unexpected challenge, especially when you consider that all of us are retired. To…
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REGRETS, I HAVE A FEW
Life is all about making decisions. Sometimes we make choices after a great deal of thought, and other times we make rapid knee-jerk decisions. Hopefully, most of us are happy with the majority of choices we make, however, there are usually some things that we wish we had not done or said. One of the…
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THIS ONE’S FOR YOU
I have written 75 posts over the past year and a half. I have tried throughout my life to find humor in most situations, which is reflected in the tone of most of my posts. It is not that I do not experience the “dark side” of life, however, using humor helps me cope during…
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AN EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE KIND OF LIFE
We recently watched the movie “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” I knew that it had won numerous Academy Awards but had absolutely no idea what the movie was about. After watching the entire movie, my husband still had no idea what the movie was about – which I am sure was a common reaction among…
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QUOTES TO LIVE BY
When I was a teenager I kept a collection of quotes on a small brightly colored bulletin board in my bedroom. I gravitated towards quotes which were witty and sometimes just plain sarcastic – definitely fitting for a sixteen-year-old. As the years and life became more complicated, I found myself seeking quotes which were inspirational…
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LESS IS MORE
Many people in our generation are busy trying to reduce and eliminate many of the material things in their homes. The not-so-hidden meaning of that statement is they are figuring out that their homes are filled with stuff they do not want and probably never needed. We are donating to charities, filling our trash bins,…
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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
Happy Mother’s Day! Being a mother, as we all know, is a 24/7 job with very little time off. Even when your children are grown up and living their own lives, the job of being a mom continues. This post is dedicated to mothers who do such an amazing job of meeting their children’s educational,…
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YOGA – FINAL CHAPTER
After my unsuccessful first yoga lesson, I decided to Google for information about yoga for seniors. Luckily, a studio which I had visited many years ago was listed and it had great reviews. Best of all, they offered several types of classes for people like me – lack of flexibility, lack of stamina, and lack…
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YOGA – THE SEQUEL
Those of you who read my first post regarding yoga already know that I was unsure about trying this new activity. This post is about what happened when I made the decision to attend a yoga class. It is no secret to my friends and family that the only exercise I do is walking. Just…
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TIPPING POINT
For those of us who eat out often, how much to tip is often a dilemma. Tips usually reflect the level of service, whether you are at a regular sit-down restaurant, driving through, or you are picking up food. Sometimes, there are other factors that affect how much or how little you tip. So many…
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RETIRED OR JUST TIRED?
I retired after 30 years of teaching at a private school. I wasn’t sure what I would do with all of my free time and actually signed up to substitute teach for a while so that I could transition from working 9 hours a day to not working at all. It didn’t take much time…
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YOGA
Last week an ad for a new yoga studio in my neighborhood flashed across my Facebook page. Generally ads that involve gyms or similar physical activity cause my brain to react as if the screen is on fire and I scroll down quickly. For some reason, this time I not only clicked on the ad,…
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JUST ANOTHER MANI MONDAY
This post is actually a thank you to my new manicurist. In doing some research about the popularity of manicures, I found it amazing that the nail industry makes over 20 billion dollars globally every year. That means many people, like me, are spending significant time and money on their nails for various reasons. I…
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THESE ARE A FEW OF MY NEW FAVORITE THINGS
Flowers on cupcakes and liquid eye liner, Cardigan sweaters that are not designer, Pretty umbrellas for rain up above, These are some things I am learning to love. Ok, so this is hardly the Sound of Music, but hopefully it got your attention. In a world filled with so many problems, this post focuses on…
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HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?
We had our first scary health experience with our two-year-old pup last week. Bella, who is normally the Energizer Dog, woke up a few days ago, lethargic, shaking, and barely capable of sitting up. After observing her for a few hours, we took her to an emergency pet hospital for evaluation because our pet clinic…
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TIME FOR AN UPDATE
My daughter recently sent me an email about the need to download a security update for all Apple products. Based on prior security alerts, I assumed that “patching” this issue would be fairly quick and easy. I started with my phone, which was simple, but it did take 45 minutes to complete. I followed the…
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COMFORT FOOD
According to my research, comfort food is defined as a dish which is high in carbs, high in sugar, or high in fatty acids. In other words, unhealthy foods that we crave in order to feel better. Basically, the majority of us do not reach for carrots or protein bars when we are really stressed.…
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A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPER BOWL FAN
Being as I rarely know the names of the teams who play in the Super Bowl each year, the title of this post may be surprising. If someone asks me which team I am supporting, I generally make a choice based on the uniform colors I like best. Most people watch this exciting event because…
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TIME FOR A GETAWAY
I am a person who enjoys getaways, which translates to several days away in a relaxing location – no planes, trains, or scheduling. Luckily, there are a number of wonderful places to visit which are just a few hours away. Since we are both retired, every day is a good day to travel. Last week,…
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DISAPPEARING DIE
A few months ago my husband and I were playing backgammon when one of my dice bounced off of the game board and headed for the floor. I must confess that I lose eighty percent of our games so missing dice could actually be a good thing for me. In the past, dice which fell…
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WHERE IS MY CAR?
In 1967, the Union 76 gas stations handed out little orange styrofoam balls with their logo on them. We placed them on our fully extended antennas in an attempt to help locate our cars in parking lots. This trend died out in the 1980’s, however, in 1995, Jack in the Box promoted their version of…
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WEATHER OR NOT
Until last week, I rarely took weather predictions seriously. Countless reports of a “storm watch” usually resulted in so few raindrops that you could practically count them. In contrast to our usual drought-ridden climate, record breaking amounts of rain made headlines day after day. We unearthed the multitude of flashlights hidden in every room only…
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STORAGE UNITS
The definition of a storage unit is a space, usually in the interior of an enclosed structure, which is used solely for storage. They are often used as a short-term solution for keeping items safe when moving. Sometimes they are used as a shrine where cribs, stuffed animals, and every school assignment created since 1985…
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WHAT YEAR IS IT?
So far in 2023, I have only written 2022 on a few items, however, this is nothing to be proud of since it is only January 5th. Typically I remember to write the current year with some degree of accuracy after the first month or two of the new year. Being as I have never…
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CONVERSATIONS WITH MY GRANDCHILD
I remember having conversations with my daughter when she was nine years old. They often focused on clothing, her friends, and occasionally school. I could easily follow her comments because, although I may not have always enjoyed her perspective, I always understood her words. Fast forward to my nine-year-old grandson. Between the names of the…
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RESOLUTIONS
December is traditionally the time to begin reflecting upon the past year and to create goals for the new year. Research shows that the majority of New Year’s resolutions seem to focus on weight loss, increasing exercise, making/saving money, and getting organized. I have enthusiastically made many resolutions throughout the years. I really did intend…
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EVERYBODY HAS A STORY
I believe that every person has a story to tell. It doesn’t matter who they are, whether they are young or old, their ethnicity, or their lifestyle preferences. Not everyone wants to tell their story, but I have found that many people are eager to share something about their lives when given the opportunity. Most…
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WHAT DAY IS IT?
Originally, the day after Thanksgiving was referred to as Black Friday – a day when practically everything in the world was on sale. There are several different explanations as to why the name Black Friday came to be. One reason is that merchants often operated in the “red” prior to this day, but due to…
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MY 50TH POST
When I started writing this blog approximately seven months ago, I asked myself two big questions – would I find enough topics to write about and would anyone continue to read my posts? Research shows that almost all blogs are monetized (sponsored by advertisers who pay the person writing the blog) and most blogs are…
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EVERYONE KNOWS IT’S WINDY
Sometimes I wonder if the musical group The Association were inspired to write the song “Windy” because they lived in an area similar to my neighborhood. Not only did I live most of my life in a location known for windy weather, I also worked for 30 years at a school which experienced an unusual…
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THANKSGIVING
I have been hosting Thanksgiving dinners for about three decades. The past few years we have relied on various restaurants to cook the turkey and a few standard side dishes. It was definitely easier, but I missed the familiar taste of homemade traditional food. This year I made the decision to do a “real” Thanksgiving…
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A SERIOUS POST
As a young child, my daughter was able to spend a great deal of time with her grandmother because we lived in close proximity to each other. The bond between them was evident from the moment my daughter was born until my mother’s death. There are many times when I see the common threads that…
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HOLIDAY SHOPPING
It is the day after Halloween and like so many people, I am beginning to think about the upcoming holidays. Lists have been created and many hours will be spent finding the “right” gifts. I used to love going to malls. It is hard to know whether the pandemic has caused my current “mall apathy”…
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THE FIRST 18 MONTHS
There are many compelling reasons for getting a puppy. They are adorable, cuddly and their antics are incredibly amusing. Because they act on instinct, not logic, most of the things they do make absolutely no sense to humans. My guess is that dogs think the same thing about us. It has been 18 months since…
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CALENDAR GIRL
I own an iPhone but do not use the online calendar feature. It is not that I do not appreciate technology – it is just that I am used to recording events on the pretty paper calendar that sits on my desk. The main disadvantage of my desk calendar is that when I am not…
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HELLO, 70!
When I began this blog six months ago, I defined myself as an almost 70-year-old woman. As of midnight tonight, the word “almost” will no longer be accurate. I have been giving this aging thing a lot of thought. Some people believe that age is just a number, while others start exploring retirement “villages” before…
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BUDDY SHOPPING
Last week my daughter and I were talking about her upcoming work event. In our conversation it quickly became apparent that she was in need of a new dress. I own many dresses which she could have borrowed – if only they were about three sizes smaller. We have been shopping buddies since she was…
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KARMA
After doing research about the meaning of the word karma, I discovered that when many people refer to the word “karma”, they are often referring to the concept of cause and effect. If I do a good thing, good things will happen and if I do a bad thing, bad things will happen. The concept…
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SHOTS IN THE DARK
My daughter and I have maintained a tradition of buying season play tickets together. As a result of the pandemic, several of next season’s plays are the same ones that we saw several years ago. We have decided to take a break and just buy tickets to individual plays next year. We recently attended the…
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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS IN OCTOBER
I rarely make resolutions on New Year’s Eve because historically I forget about them by January 3rd. Throughout the year I try to think about ways to become a better person (help others more often), ways to maintain authenticity (being honest without offending anyone), and ways to simplify my life (buy less Amazon products), to…
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CRINKLY EYES
As mentioned in an earlier post, “crinkly eyes” is the topic of this post. Believe me when I say that I would much rather be writing about crinkly fries (one of my favorite things) than this topic. After reading several articles regarding eye wrinkles, I feel fairly confident that I have not engaged in most…
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ANTICIPATION
If a song title represents the current theme of my life, then the Carly Simon song, “Anticipation” would be an accurate choice. Anticipation is defined as the emotion we experience when expecting something to happen, good or bad. The impact of powerful problems (Covid, politics, and worldwide financial instability, to name a few) has resulted…
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TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK
I am one of those people who still wears a mask in public places – it feels safer and the fact that my masks are really comfortable makes it easy. I never wore the N95 “super masks” during the height of the pandemic because the edges hit right under my eyes, which caused them to…
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DOLLAR STORE
Whenever I feel like shopping for no particular reason, I go the closest “dollar store.” In reality, some of these businesses are actually dollar twenty-five cent stores, but the increase is hardly a deterrent. It aways amazes me that even though I enter these stores with absolutely no need to buy anything, I manage to…
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COOKING WITH GUILT
If the number of items on our kitchen counter is indicative of my cooking ability, then I should be right up there with Julia Child, or at least Rachel Ray. Between the two professional knife sets, the convection oven, the toaster, the mixer, the instant pot, the air fryer, crockpot, and 10 cookbooks, it appears…
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THE CLOSEST THING TO BRAZIL
This post is not about traveling to South America – I could never be labeled a world traveler- one trip to Canada and another one to Aruba in 70 years. Unfortunately, at the rate things are going in the world, Palm Desert is looking like the safest destination for the time being. It could be…
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DOG YEARS
One year ago we adopted our puppy, Bella, who has been mistaken for a stuffed animal due to her bear-like haircut and round black eyes. Sometimes she reminds us of a wind- up toy on drugs as she zooms throughout the house like a rocket. One of her unusual abilities is going up our staircase…
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BACKUP DANCERS
Last weekend, we attended a concert in a local park with some friends. The cover group who performed is named after one of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ huge hits. Many of you know the song by two different titles, “Oh, What a Night” and “September 1973.” We were lucky to have a large…
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SNAP, CRACKLE, POP
I loved Rice Krispies as a child – actually I still enjoy eating them. Not only do they taste good, but it is always amusing to hear the sound these crunchy, airy, little nuggets make. Lately, I have become aware of something else that makes similar sounds but is far from amusing, to say nothing…
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PATTY MELT WITH A SIDE OF POLITICS
I recently made plans to meet a friend at a restaurant which we have patronized for the past 15 years. The menu is extensive and the atmosphere has always been charming and pleasant – until a few weeks ago. Let me just say that I am not a person who discusses politics with other people,…
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SIRI AND HER SISTER ALEXA
I think that if Siri and Alexa were humans, they would be twin sisters. They are both slightly hearing impaired as evidenced by the number of strange word substitutions they make. Siri and Alexa have amazing manners, but tend to give way too much information when asked simple questions. Their voices are crystal clear and…
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EVERY DAY IS TACO TUESDAY
As children, our family occasionally ate “out” and the choices were mostly Italian and Chinese food. We never ate Mexican food when I was growing up – I am not even sure if my mom even knew what a taco was. As a result, I actually developed my love of tacos, burritos, and enchiladas after…
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MICRODERMABRASION
I had my first microdermabrasion treatment when I was in my thirties – basically it is pretty much like having your face vacuumed with a small wand. It is not a miracle procedure, but it does gently remove all of the “stuff” which has accumulated on your skin. Microdermabrasion does give a smoother, more youthful…
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“NOTHING PERSONAL”
I think that texting is a good tool for communicating information – not so much for conveying feelings. Between the lack of affect and the random words that Siri selects in her attempt to transmit what she hears, the possibilities for miscommunication are endless. As a writer, I know how powerful words can be, which…
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A GUY NAMED JIMMY
My husband and I enjoy eating at a small, comfortable restaurant near our home. The menu is not extensive, but the food is always good and the service is wonderful. A few months ago, the management added live music and we decided to request the songs “Fire and Rain”, and “Brown-Eyed Girl.” Somehow we ended…
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IT’S THREE A.M.
I used to be a great sleeper – my head would hit the pillow and when I opened my eyes, it was morning. Even if I was awoken by the sound of snoring or the intermittent whining of an air conditioner, I had the ability to go back to sleep after a few minutes. Fast…
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SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
The six degrees of separation theory is the concept that every person in the world is connected by a chain of family members, friends, or acquaintances that number no more than five people. This theory became a game associated with Kevin Bacon more than two decades ago. Personally, the only connection I have with Kevin…
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM
Today would have been my mother’s 93rd birthday. One of her special gifts was her uncanny ability to assess situations objectively and to give advice and perspective to those around her. Her words reflected honesty, tempered with kindness. I am dedicating this post to her by sharing a few of the many things she shared…
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NOT FOREVER YOUNG
I love music. As I clearly explained in a previous post, I cannot sing, although this reality doesn’t always stop me. Music is a force which can comfort, evoke powerful emotions, and get senior citizens to rock out in their chairs. We have attended several concerts recently. At the first one, the opening act for…
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LITTLE THINGS
Lately, it seems that we are bombarded with a multitude of frightening world events and issues which have caused us to live with fear and anxiety. This makes it very difficult to notice, let alone enjoy, the everyday common events that occur. Personally, I keep trying to look for the things in my life that…
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QUE SERA SERA
I used to label myself as a control freak. After reading a list of synonyms for this term, I now define myself as a tenacious person who enjoys control – which almost sounds like a good thing. Not only do I want to control my world, I am willing to devote endless energy towards achieving…
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TIMING
I have always been a believer that timing is a critical element in life. Just as we see a traffic accident occur and think “wow I just missed that” or we found the last package of toilet paper on the shelf during the pandemic, timing is important. There have been many events in my life…
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KARAOKE, ANYONE?
Recently, while clearing out an upstairs room in our home, I discovered an old karaoke machine. Being as we are planning on entertaining outside this summer, this discovery sparked my interest. It turns out that the machine was bought for my husband’s children many years ago. It clearly had seen better days as evidenced by…
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FULL CIRCLE
I began this blog for several reasons. As many of you know, when my daughter started school, I went back to college for a degree in journalism with the hope of writing a newspaper column. Several semesters later, the director of my daughter’s school asked me to temporarily step in and take over a classroom…
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HERE’S A SPOT, THERE’S A SPOT
Just as the number of candles on our birthday cakes increases every year, we also tend to increase the number of specialty doctors listed on our phones. When you add a new doctor, do you create these new contacts with their names, or their specialties? The catch is if you decide to use their specialty…
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CAUGHT IN THE WWW
Most the time, I really enjoy using the Internet, AKA the World Wide Web. It serves so many useful purposes, like writing this blog. However, like most people, I am annoyed and distracted by the countless unwanted ads that continually decorate my computer screen. Once in a while, an interesting ad comes across the screen,…
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WHICH WAY IS NORTH?
I have always had a bad sense of direction – on second thought, make that a non-existent sense of direction. I cannot distinguish between north, south, east, and west – only right and left. Basically, the correct path is always the opposite of what I think it is. For example, I have the layout of…
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GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE JUMPSUITS
There are a few facts you need to know before reading this post. First, this post has nothing to do with Goldilocks. Second, it really is about three jumpsuits. And finally, only one of the jumpsuits is mine. Several months ago, my two friends and I started a discussion about what to wear to a…
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AND THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
One of my closest friends recently moved from San Diego to Los Angeles. I did not help her pack or unpack, but found many other ways I could help without lifting a single box. The following are the highlights of our adventures. When my friend, who will be referred to as D, made a visit…
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WRINKLE REMOVER
I know what you are thinking when you read the title of this post – she is going to give us the name of some “miracle” product or procedure for removing wrinkles from our faces. I hope you are not too disappointed, but this post is actually about ironing. Yes, ironing – the task of…
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MY SUMMER UNIFORM
Shopping has always been a hobby of mine. Like many of you, I switched to online shopping once the pandemic began. As a result, I have spent a significant amount of time each week returning items to the UPS store. In my world, UPS stands for Unwanted Personal Stuff. Keeping track of the paperwork generated…
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VIKING AVENUE MEMORIES
After both of my parents died several years ago, my brother and I decided to sell their home. As many of you have experienced, cleaning and selling your parents’ home can be a very stressful and emotional experience. I now think that emptying the contents of your family’s home should be on the top 10…
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PUPPY LOVE
Most people equate dogs with comfort and companionship. When my late husband died years ago, I remember many friends suggesting that I get a dog. At the time, I was barely able to take care of myself, let alone a furry little friend. Fast forward to the pandemic, when the sale of puppies and the…
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10 REASONS WHY GRANDMOTHERS ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PEOPLE
Here are 10 reasons why grandmothers are different than other people: 1. Grandmothers will watch with enthusiasm while their grandkids type every single emoji available to mankind on an iPhone. 2. Grandmothers will respond to countless texts from their grown children with the words, “I am sorry” when their grandchildren are driving their own parents…
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THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY NOW
The first time someone explained Wordle to me, I thought “sounds like a fun game”. The words addicting, frustrating, and esteem- lowering did not come to mind. On the days when I am able to guess the correct word in less than 6 tries, I feel pretty good. On those days when I am not…
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THE “HIDDEN” BENEFIT OF WEARING MASKS
Some people believe that wearing a mask has kept them healthy during the pandemic, while others believe that the benefits have been minimal or non-existent. For those of us who have worn makeup every day, washing out the residue of facial products has created a new routine- scrubbing makeup off of various materials and methodically…
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FRIENDSHIP
My new favorite nail polish color is called Let’s Be Friends. Unlike most polish names which reflect something about the actual color, this very subtle pale pink shade does not seem to fit its name. If I created a polish with friendship in mind, it would be bright, glittery, and definitely not subtle. I consider…
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LIVING LIFE
If you are reading this, it means that you have found your way to my new blog. Just to clarify, there is no “old” blog- this is my first attempt to try something that I have considered for quite some time but never had the courage to start. I named my blog “Living Life” because…
LIVING LIFE 