Life is a Party… An Analogy

I have been delinquent, again, in my blog posting, and here we are so close to the end! I am the chairperson for an HR conference next week, we are expecting 200 attendees and I have been plunged into the depth of conference planning, with no time to do anything, except walk Jack.

It is Saturday morning, 6:00AM, the day of the big party (I wish I could have slept later). I am slightly, and I mean very slightly, embarrassed by the excess that this evening will be. In my defense I wanted it to have all the things I love: my family, friends, singing, dancing, laughter and food. I don’t know how she did it, but McKenzie found a D.J./Karaoke/comedian who will be the entertainment, I am so excited!

I thought this would be a perfect day to post my “Life is a Party” analogy. I went to Google to see what other analogies were out there, I found “life is a river”, “life is a battlefield”, “life is like a video game”... obviously the younger generation is now getting involved in analogies. But my analogy about life has always been aligned with a good party:

Party preparation happens during the first quarter of our lives, this, for many, is often the best time of all. Everything is still ahead, so you have lots of time think about your theme, decide who you want to invite, what kind of music you want and what games will be played.

Let the party begin! When we get into our “adult” lives you can see what kind of party it is going to be by the type of people that are showing up. Everyone is young, for the most part, and ready to have fun. This is when some crazy things can happen, but that’s okay, there is plenty of time left and the craziness will be remembered later with fondness. This is also the part of the party where people begin to pair off, slipping into different rooms, not to be seen again until much later in the party. Some people leave all together.

Party in full swing! At this stage everyone at the party knows everyone else, there have been new faces introduced, which involves additional celebration. Unfortunately it is inevitabe and usually without explanation that someone very important to the party leaves. It isn’t their fault, but it has an impact that takes a while for partygoers to recover from. Fortunately most people are able to move on and enjoy who is left at their party. Of course there will be the inevitable tears and fights, but that is what gives the party its character.

Winding down…. One day you look up and see that most of the people have left the party; just a few close friends and family remain to help you debrief the whole affair. This is the part where everyone compares notes and hopefully says what a wonderful time they've had. At this point the party host is usually exhausted and ready to call it a day. She says goodbye to the people that have stayed till the end, slips into her soft cloths and drifts off, thinking about how grateful she is to have attended the party of her life.

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

I talked about this earlier in the year, our good, old dog Magic has been declining and today is the day that we will set him free from the pain, the blindness and misery that can happen to any of us after a life well lived. The story of how he came to be our dog is almost magic...

Marshall, our first dog, had passed way the summer of 1996 and in December of that year I decided a dog for Christmas would be brilliant! I called all over until I found affordable purebred lab puppies (no computer searches in those days). The puppies were in Isanti, far from me but close to my brother in-law where we would be spending Christmas. I called the breeder and he explained that there was only one left, the runt, and that someone was coming to look at him over the weekend.

Long story short, I convinced him that my family needed the dog much more than the random hunter who was coming to look at him and I promised that someone would be there by the end of the day with cash. Luckily my sister-in-law was game for this and on Christmas day the faces of the kids and Mark were priceless! That was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

We knew right away he was an amazing dog, he learned everything so fast from potty training to hunting. One day he was laying on the floor looking at me with his ears all perked forward and I said, "Put your head down". BAM, he put his head down, now how did he know what that meant. He also instantly learned the army crawl, I don't know where he was able to use this, but he was sure good at it. He even brought Mark live ducks from the swamp that some other hunter had wounded and not found.

 

I took him to my office every day, he was the official greeter at world headquarters. Rochelle, who worked with me for 10 years, taught him to roll over, another trick he never forgot.. Thanks Rochelle! Everywhere he went people seemed to appreciate his gentle spirit and very, very shiny coat.

Our life together was better because Magic was our stabilizer. With teenagers, working parents and crazy schedules it was Magic we could all go to with our drama and our troubles. You just had to lay your head on his shoulder and you could feel the sadness or whatever ailed you begin to ease. Now it is our turn to ease his pain, Sam, Mckenzie, Mark and I will take good care of him on this final journey just as he has taken such good care of us.

We still have two dogs; Niles, the miniature greyhound, is the comedian, Jack the 105 lb black lab is, well, we still aren't sure, he is just Jack. But Magic lived up to his name, he really was magic.

Up, up and away....

The only way I seem to be able to find time to write the blog post is when I am absolutely captive, like I am now, flying to DC. No worries though because I am sitting in an exit isle, so I can help people get off after we crash AND this is a unique seat because it is a row of one. This is good for everyone on board so they don’t see/hear me jump when the wheels go up or we hit a patch of turbulence. I understand there are thunderstorms in DC… pray for me.

You may not realize this but it is butterfly season, so be on the lookout for monarchs, tiger, zebra and black swallowtails. When McKenzie was one year old I started a family tradition of looking for monarch caterpillars to bring home and watch turn into butterflies. Over the past 25 years we have had seasons with no caterpillars all the way up to 15. That was the year we brought home a milkweed with eggs on it.

Getting the caterpillar from baby to butterfly is a miraculous process. First you have to make sure you have fresh milk weeds for them to eat, we would just put them in a vase and hope they stayed on it. For about 2 weeks they eat and grow and poop.. You would be stunned by the volume these little buggers put out! Then one day they wander down to the underside of a leaf, settle in for a few hours and then bam, they make the chrysalis. It is a crazy wiggly, twisting dance that somehow turns into a light green jewel with gold specs around the top. Another 2 weeks go by, the chrysalis turns black, the butterfly emerges and we put them in garden.

This is one of my favorite memories with the kids and a tradition that was carried on this year by McKenzie (daughter). For those of you who haven’t seen her in real life I need to tell you she has the most amazing blue eyes and beautiful dark hair. She has also made the big move of buying a townhome, so it is appropriate that she started her own butterfly tradition.

Several weeks ago my sisters found a new kind of caterpillar in their garden; it was black and green, which they gave to McKenzie. She did some research, found out they eat parsley (really?) and set up her own butterfly sanctuary. Last week a most beautiful butterfly emerged, a black butterfly with blue markings- the perfect color combination in a butterfly and a young women both so ready to take their place in the world. I remember now that sometimes it is hard to let those butterflies go.

So You Think You Can Dance? Do You Even Want to Try??

As stated earlier in research on Google, I discovered that the way to slow down the passage of time was to do something different. This week I took that idea out for a spin, and although time flew by as always, my husband and I did enjoy learning the fox trot and the rumba.

I need to give a bit of background on our relationship. We met in 1981 and were married in 1984, which should have been enough time to discover that we are polar opposites. If you Google "love is blind" you will probably find reference to our union somewhere in the 21,000,000 results.

There were glaring signs that our life together would not be a peaceful journey. When I called my mom to tell her I was engaged, she asked, "to who?" After the minister, who had counseled us before our wedding, reviewed our personality test results he didn't seem to be able to articulate the results so he just said, "well, best of luck to you two."

To summarize some of the differences; he loves riding his Harley, I am lukewarm and only enjoy a shorter ride. I am actually having a t-shirt made that says, IF YOU CAN READ THIS I AM MORE THAN 45 MILES FROM HOME AND THE BITCH WOULDN'T COME WITH ME. (For those who don't know the original t-shirt said, IF YOU CAN READ THIS THE BITCH FELL OFF) Opps, I digress, He is Harley, I am Night Club, He is stay at home alone, I am let's have a bunch of people over, he says tomato, I say tomato, he says potato I say.. never mind, this doesn't work in print. Anyway, I believe I have made my point.

Through all our years together I try to gently introduce him to new and exciting experiences i.e. I drag him shuffling and scowling to what I think will be super fun things to do together. I found a coupon on Living Social for 4 dance classes and I bought it. There was no need to check with my dance partner because he wouldn't want to do it. So I had to present this great deal in exactly the right context.

"You know for my birthday, we are going to have a DJ?" Already suspicious he says..."Ya?" "Well, for my birthday present I want you to take a few dance lessons with me" He laughs and say, "ya.. right..." shakes his head and walks away. So, I say, "Great!! First lesson is next Thursday."

It would take too much time and be to difficult to relive the actual trip to the dance studio, some things are better kept private. Needless to say we did go and when it was time for class an amazing thing happened. A most beautiful 5'8" 120 lb, doe eyed, brunet, dance instructor lead my reluctant husband into the studio. She spent a lot of time practicing with him in particular, I think she may have seen him pacing in the lobby before class. Anyway, by the end of the hour he was happily fox trotting and rumbaing. Who knows, maybe next week I will get to dance with him!

Counting Down From 10!

I have noticed a pattern in the blogs I have posted.... First two months - 5 blogs posted, next two months - 3, next two -2, last month 1. Like so many things I start in my life with great gusto, the novelty wears a bit thin and the next thing you know the latest and greatest is on the shelf in the basement.

To avoid this from happening to the blog I am recommitting to this activity. After all, 10 short weeks from today with be October 10th and the journey will be complete. I have so much to do in 10 weeks and realize that most of what I had planned back in January may not be realized.

I will use this posting to help me restructure my goals:

1. The guitar is still tuned and sitting about 8' from my desk, that is as far as I have gotten. I don't believe I can master the instrument in 10 weeks. Instead of guitar mastery I have decided to start listening to Acoustic Sunset on Cities 97, close enough.

2. Still working on the yoga practice, my sister and I did a free week at a yoga center and I realize the only way I will attend yoga is through peer pressure. I am not sure where the love/resistance comes from with yoga, but I now know the only way I am going to class is if someone is there waiting for me.

3. Healthy eating is a bi-monthly activity.

Well, that was fairly easy and pain free! Now, onward to the rest of the journey!

What Is The Next Big Thing?

I am very lucky to be a morning person, I open my eyes and am grateful to be alive, for my family, for the view out my bedroom window, for the work I do and for, well, just for everything. ( The bad news is; this is as good as I feel all day) In the morning I can make up my mind to do anything, get in a good workout, or maybe pitch a new project to a client... all this happens before I even get out of bed, some might actually call it dreaming.

Some days this great morning feeling can take me all the way to the afternoon, but lately it keeps slipping away earlier and earlier. By nine o'clock this morning I was already tired of working. I found myself casting about, wondering what I should do next. I had recently heard about a new TV series called Love in the Wild, which I had been meaning to check out. Just my luck I found it on ON DEMAND! I grabbed a blanket (because the air conditioner is on) and climbed into my "TV"chair and slipped into a media coma.

Fortunately there was only one show available to watch, because it was pretty good and I would have sat through at least three. This is not the first day this has happened...... I am not content , I am tired of working (I know, who isn't?) I want to do something different or to have something different happen. I went to the Antiques Road Show this weekend (thank you Susan for the ticket!!) but none of my treasures were worth over $100. We did do the Feedback Booth, so maybe that will be on PBS and I will be discovered by a Hollywood director.. oh, I forgot, that doesn't happen to 50 year old women.

In an effort to find something different I Googled "what is the next big thing?". Turns out you have to be very careful when researching the next big thing, make sure you check the dates of what you are reading, I almost bought some Enron stock!

I did find a reliable source from the UK, The Future Place Blog, which listed the follow as the top two on some random list:

1.Behavioural economics
2.Biometrics (non-neuro, e.g. eye tracking)

I like the first one the best because I can fully relate.. I have behaviors, so I totally get that and I like economics because that generally means $$. I like the second one as well, I have recently heard several companies talking about Biometrics AND both 1 & 2 start with a letter "B". Who would like to start an enterprise with me called Behavioral Biometrics? BB with be our ticker symbol, we'll get us some angel investors, assemble a board of directors (some of your friends and some of mine) and build an empire. Let me know if you want in.

Okay, NOW Summer Has Arrived!

After 4 weeks of rain and cold this last week of June has finally decided to release some real summer weather to us winter weary Minnesotans. I love this time of year and so does my loyal trainer, Jack. He loves it because it is softball/baseball season and the park where we walk every day has 4 ball fields. This means nothing to me, but to Jack each walk is a quest for balls. The best we have done so far is 16 baseballs and 4 softballs.

Summer walks in the park are like stepping back in time. The smells of fresh cut grass, blooming clover and humid air that feels like a blanket brings me right back to the circle where all of us Kacher kids were raised alongside dozens of other families. We were in a new housing development that, just a year earlier, had been a cornfield. Maybe it is just me, but I am certain that being raised in the 60's was about as good as it could get. There were woods where we built tree forts, caught butterflies and played hide and seek. Every spring we went to the feed store and picked up a couple of baby ducks that would grow up and move into the pond behind our house.

One summer my friend Renee and I convinced our parents to let us rent horses and keep them in my backyard. I guess they agreed because it was cheaper than horse camp. One Saturday morning we were dropped off at Hanson's ranch about 10 miles from home, picked out two horses and headed back to the suburbs. For 7 amazing days we strolled around Bloomington on horses. We went to parks and jumped baseball benches, road to the beach, sold rides to little kids and at the end of the day, since we had no barn, we just tied them to the cloths line posts.

Anything was possible when you were a kid in the summer and maybe anything is possible when you are 50 in the summer as well. The temperature outside is over 100, I think I will grab my water wings and head to the beach... Oh wait, I have meeting tonight. Well, maybe tomorrow....

My Dying Will

June has started out with a, hmm, I can’t think of an adjective that can properly sum up how badly the summer has started out.

I was reminded again this week that I(we) continue to grow old with the unexpected death of a very dear friend. We have been friends since high school and had amazing adventures. You see we were flag twirlers, so you probably don't need a lot of explanation when I say "amazing adventures". We were supposed to meet for lunch and she never showed up. I sent her email and texts but didn’t hear back until her sister sent me a message on facebook saying she had passed away after a brief battle with cancer. So instead of a reschedule lunch date the next time I saw her was at her wake. After the wake my flag twirling friends and I went out for a drink and to share memories of Michelle. I still cannot believe that she left.

A few days later I drove my mom to visit her brother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her brother Bill was a World War II Air Force veteran; he owned a ranch and worked with horses his whole life. He has a wonderful wife and 4 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was heartbreaking to see him this week, he mostly sleeps, doesn’t speak much and I am not sure what he knows or doesn’t know. As mom and I left their home we came into a group of several memory care residents and as I looked at them I didn’t see old people, I tried to see what they use to be before their bodies were robbed of their minds.

If I could turn back the clock to when they were 50 and show them what was ahead I wonder what they might have done differently, if anything. This brings me to the title of my blog today, My Dying Will. I know about the Living Will, telling people what they should do in case you’re very sick and don’t want heroic measures taken to keep you alive. But what is you are alive, very much alive, but your mind is gone. What if every day you wake up with fear, anxiety, and loneliness because you don’t know anyone? Every person I have talked with about this says they absolutely do not want to live like that, nobody has said well, it wouldn’t be that bad.

I will do some research and put up a template for anyone who wants in on this plan. I imagine I will need some pretty good criteria that must be met, but it doesn’t really need to be complicated, does it? Of course the “termination” plan needs an administrator, hopefully by the time I might need to implement the Will there will be a process in place.

Okay, that is two somewhat depressing blogs in a row. Hopefully my next post about the root canal gone bad will funny…. Not!

Summer Has Officially Started!

My updated goal for the blog was to post twice each month and I am just getting in under the wire. So much has happened since Mother's Day! The flowering trees have come and gone, the lilacs are on their last leg. My niece was married in a beautiful ceremony and I saw my stunning daughter deliver a great speech as her main of honor (Mckenzie and Kelsey are pictured). All of these reminding me of how fast the time is moving along.

Memorial day is the kick off for summer and all the great things that go along with the season; BBQ's, graduation parties, weddings, trips to the cabin, gardening, farmers market AND estate sales. I have actually been to a few already and I am slowly moving away from the intrigue of priceless antique or a diamond ring forgotten in an old purse. The last few that I have been to I have begun to feel more like an intruder than a shopper and I wonder if this is a sign... of getting older.

All of the sales we went to a few weeks ago were in little old houses where it was clear the person had spent the majority of their life. When you walk in you realize there is so much left of a life that it seems nobody wants. So instead of going in to hunt for treasure I enter the home as I would enter a sacred place, very quiet and a bit somber. Every room I enter I think, this is where the kids were little, this is where she did the laundry, here is where he kept all his tools. I usually find one, simple item to buy, an item I believe this person used often and held wonderful memories to take home and make more memories.

I have decided to start thinking about my own "estate" sale as I look through the drawers in my kitchen and the overflowing closets. I believe it is a fact of our consumerism that we leave a lot of stuff behind, so I am not going to try to change that, I like all my stuff. But I did come up with a unique marketing idea for my sale.... I thought it would be interesting to have someone video me and have it playing at the sale saying helpful things like, "you should buy that, it will look good in the family room." Or, "you break it you buy it". How about, "why did you put that down? It was one of my favorites!" Would that be creepy?

Happy Mother's Day!

All over the United States mother's are being delivered a feast of overcooked eggs or undercooked pancakes in bed, homemade bouquets and construction paper cards loving assembled by tiny, sweet hands who so love their mothers that in their heart they know that what they are creating is perfection. I love the memories of my early years of motherhood, the sweet smell of my babies when they were new; their toddler years with chubby, sticky hands and wonderful, miniature voices. I am lucky that my in-laws videotaped a lot of my kids growing up because now I have an amazing record.

I remember so many of the firsts in motherhood. The first time I brought each one home from the hospital, the first time they rolled over, sat up, blew a kiss and the first visit from the tooth fairy. The holidays were magic with a visit from Santa Claus, Easter egg hunts, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween and many the birthday parties.

All these wonderful firsts make me ask when did I do all the lasts.. I didn't know they were lasts when I did them, but I wish I had, I would have enjoyed them more. When was the last time I wrapped my freshly bathed child in a towel and held them on my lap? When was the last time we curled up in bed together and read a story or when was the very last time I scooped some food into their mouths from a rubber covered baby spoon? Looking back time has passed so fast but I remember looking ahead thinking they would never grow up.

Now that my kids are grown up this doesn't mean the firsts stop, they are just different kind of firsts. The first time they text each other saying that I am driving them crazy. The first time I see them exchange a knowing look that says, "oh here she goes again". The first time they borrow the car and bring it back with more gas than it had when they left. The first time they show up at your house just to help you clean, the first time they offer to take you on an all expense paid trip to Australia, they first time they want to buy you a new house... (oppps, shifted into fantasy there for a minute!)

For me there are still many big firsts to come... When they get married and have their own children. I am in no hurry for grandchildren but today I would really, really like to borrow a baby. Let me know if you have one and I will be right over! Happy Mother's Day!

Technology, Can't Live With it and Can't Turn it Off!

Technology - Issue I

I have been working hard to get use to the touch screen on my android phone. I find the typing particularly challenging. Just when I think I have it right and hit the send button, I get a reply with question marks and most recently an embarrassing faux pas.

My sister and I were throwing a wedding shower for my niece. We didn't specify any particular theme for the shower, so when the question came in asking what type of shower we were having I was quick to reply to my guest... too quick:

Guest's Message received:

My Mom asked if this is a personal shower or a kitchen shower or whatever and I don't have a clue where the invitation is and can't recall if it is indicated on there. I also have no idea where she or they are registered. Think you can help out here? Your loving ex-neighbor and current friend.

Immediate reply from android phone:

Hi neighbor, this is a genetal shower.so anything goes. I thonk she is registered at macys looking forward to seei.g you!

Urgent reply from x neighbor:

A genital shower! Oh, my!

Ooopppss..... I meant general

Technology - Issue II

Why do companies have realistic sounding answering machines? I needed to get to human being and the autolady is asking me all these questions: account number, birth date, zip code and she kindly gives me my account information. THANK YOU!!! I have the statement in my hand! Sometimes you just have to say "REPERESNTATIVE" or "AGENT" to get to a mammal. But autolady just kept saying, "I am sorry, I don't understand."

I lose myself and find I am screaming at autolady and she begins to sound angry. I am waiting for her to say... "Hal, we know where you live, we are sending an army of autobit***s to take your children."

It occurs to me at that instant that this would be a hilarious clip and I imagine there are hundreds, no thousands of people just like me swearing at autoladies all over the world. Brilliant! Now I just need to find out how to get my hands on the clips so I can start a website that could put an end to the automadness. If anyone has any ideas, you're in, we will make a fortune.

So, is it age that is my barrier to these technologies, or it is just being human.. and spending too much time alone?

Getting Back to Business

One hundred days have passed since my "conceptual" 50th birthday and it is time to stop and take stock of the progress I have made during my journey. In the first 100 days I have learned:

• Even if you move your guitar within reach you won't necessarily play it


• Remembering to say no to things you shouldn't do, not the things you should


• Life is better when you focus on acceptance, except too much focus can cause you to gain 6 lbs.


• To slow down the passage of time you have to do new things, not just think of new things


• Fuzzy, bobble-head eaglets turn into gawky, weird looking, birds amazingly fast

That's all I got so far and I am not even sure my lessons are useful. Therefore I am back to practicing healthier lifestyle habits and have been doing so since 6:30 this morning. This time my daughter is joining me and we all know it is easier to make changes with someone than to do it alone.

Our plan is to shed some weight and then do our own version of "What Not to Wear". We are still looking for someone to take us shopping and teach us important lessons about wardrobe, hair and makeup. If you are not busy in June, let me know, we should be ready by then.

As I worked (walked) with the trainer today I noticed that the pale green leaves of the weeping willows were starting to unfurl. If you are not from Minnesota you wouldn't know how terribly ugly March and most of April are. Snow mold keeps the grass matted down, garbage from the long winter is revealed with the melted snow and everything looks brown and dirty. But, the glimpse of that first pale yellow green willow leaf is like the beginning of the very best party.

To celebrate I bought a flat of overpriced pansies yesterday and put them in the front yard. I do this as a challenge to mother nature who apparently will be showing up on Wednesday with some snow and ice. In the immortal words of Charlie Sheen... "Bring it!"

The Eaglets Have Landed

All bets are off on the new lifestyle and I can't decide if I am ashamed or thrilled. Being raised Catholic my inclination is to be ashamed, but today I am going for thrilled. As time goes on the shame will come on its own, no need to rush things! I have a new obsession, which has kept me from posting before now. Actually, it has kept me from a lot of things and I am feeling cautious about saying what it is as I don't want to be responsible for anyone losing their job or giving up their healthy lifestyle.

This new fascination dovetails nicely with my last post because it is about eagles. I was watching the news and they were talking about an eagles nest that has 24X7 live streaming. With my new found affinity for birding I thought this was brilliant! I don't have to walk around, carry binoculars or hang with other birders. I can just sit at my desk and watch this amazing eagle family.

She starts her day as any other mother would, gets off the nest and counts the kids to make sure they are all still there. You can almost see a trace of a smile in her eyes as nudges them around with her beak and gets them ready for breakfast. Her nest is very handy, she has a several fish sitting at the edge of her 6' domain, 80' up in the air. The most amazing piece is that she never leaves, as the days go by you can see her start to get a bit crabby, just sitting all day long. Sometime she tidies up the place by rearranging the grass and sticks. I haven't seen this yet, but she must dump the garbage at some point.

My favorite part is when the father arrives. He always has a fish in his talons and you can almost read her mind as he lands on the nest and she squawks "Where the hell have you been?" He says, " Sorry dear, had a hard time catching this fish, but I got him!" He is so hoping to please her.

Her response? "Fish again?? You know I need some red meat if I am going to keep the kids warm, can't you find a squirrel?" Dad's eyes flash and he responds, "Nice... I bust my beak trying to bring you some fresh, healthy food and this is what I get? You think these fish just jump into my talons???" She realizes she has gone too far and in an effort to change the course of the conversation she gets up and shows him the kids. "They are doing very well don't you think" (i.e. aren't I an amazing mother?). Dad cocks his head to the side and give them a close inspection, finally he asks, "when are they going to get some feathers?"

This goes on all day, they actually do appear to have conversations and now that the babies are several days old they are starting to squirm out from under her. Myself and over 100,000 people tune in daily to watch the drama unfold, it is a lovely way to pass a bit of time as I wait for spring to arrive. Check the site at your own risk: http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Spring is in the air!

When Jack and I went on our daily walk I saw several Canadian geese sitting on the ice in pairs and as I walked by I heard the distinct sound of a cardinal. Sure enough I looked up and there was a bright red bird. Suddenly another song, I don't know how or why I knew, but without a doubt it was a robin. I was so pleased to be enjoying this almost spring day, with all the birds that I nearly missed the sign. Deep down, in my very soul, there seems to be a birder emerging.

I was not prepared for the images this conjured up as I realized this could actually be happening to me. When I got home I looked in my back yard and sure enough there were 4 bird feeders, 3 bird houses and a bird bath. I wish I could say this is all, but lately, when we take our weekend stroll along the Minnesota River I bring... binoculars. The ONLY reason is because there is a pair of eagles nesting in the area. We have named them George and Martha, they have two youngsters that are about ready to leave the nest... Just like us. (Shhheeessshh!)

I believe this is another geriatric indicator of a maturing person, similar to diminished eyesight and the need to go to bed before 10PM. I have checked with Google and found a study by Linda T. Caissie, University of Waterloo (naturally it would be a Canadian). Here is what I have learned and can now share with you, it is all about group solidarity, highlights below:

As the older birders described their participation in nature clubs, it was evident a sense of solidarity had developed among them. When asked why they participated in nature clubs, many of the birders stated: birds of a feather flock together. Another birder stated: they [the birders] are all a bunch of kindred spirits. Based on the findings, this community of birders provided the opportunity for the creation of social bonds.

I wanted to see what my new group might look like so I Googled images of birders. They are a crafty bunch, with very few pictures of their faces, just their backs or shots of them looking through their binoculars. Frankly, I am afraid if I joined their group I would scare them. So maybe I will take this new hobby, interest, awareness of birds for what it might be... Finally, some quite time to notice all the beauty of our world.

What's New?

The first NEW thing I tried after my latest discovery about the passage of time was to not write the blog last Monday night. This did NOT slow down the passage of time and of course I see my mistake. I didn't DO something new, I just didn't do something... This test failed, you really must do something totally new for this to work.

Earlier this week I did happen upon a completely new activity that I tried out on Friday evening. It was called Acupuncture Happy Hour and was hosted at a local yoga center. My sister and I arrived, filled out the appropriate paperwork and were led into a dimly lit room with mats, blankets and Zen-like music playing. I think this may have been a first for many in the room, but nobody said a word.. we all just stretched out on our mat like a group of sleepy kindergarteners and waited.

When everyone was settled the acupuncturist went from person to person applying needles to various parts of their head. I was the fourth mat down and kept trying to peek at what she was doing as she worked her way down the line. I have no idea why I didn't just sit up and watch, it must have been the peer pressure to stay quiet and get that peaceful/meditative look on my face.

When the person next to me was getting her needles applied I could feel the beginnings of a giggle build inside me. This is when my meditative mantra began.. "please God, don't let me laugh, please God, don't let me laugh". Before I knew it the first needle went into the top of my head and felt like a little pinch so I began to relax. The next needle was placed between my eyebrows and any urge to giggle was swept away by the desire to swear. This one hurt and I had one more to go! Last needle was placed below the lobe of my ear and wasn't too bad.

The results of THIS slowing down time test definitely passed. When you are doing something so very new, which includes needles being placed in your head and then instructed to relax for a period of time unquestionably turns the minutes to hours. As for the acupuncture? I do believe I will try this again because my energy level that evening was notably improved and that night I slept more soundly than I could remember. Was this a direct result of the acupuncture or was it because I was so relieved to have the needles out of my head?

The Second Half

I tried something new with my boarding pass last week, I sent it to my phone. This was not only green, but very savvy in my opinion. I could see the curious glances as I approached the security check point with just my identification and my phone. (I was lucky I spotted someone else do this earlier or I would have just handed my phone to the TSA agent) I held my phone over the scanner, went through security and proceeded to the gate. I wondered what would happen if my phone ran out of batteries before I cleared the gate agent, but my phone told me I had almost half of the charge left.

This is where myself and my phone had a misunderstanding... Wouldn't you think that if my phone had been on for 10 hours and the indicator showed me a picture of "almost" half full that would give me at least another 5 hours? This is not true! Apparently the second half of battery life follows a completely different formula, it changes into something I can only imagine is like dog years. Fifteen minutes before boarding I get the dreaded flashing battery. Fortunately I was able to get on the plane before it shut down, but it did get me thinking about the second half.

The second half of many things go so much faster than the first(this does not just apply to batteries). People I have met just a few years ago now claim to have known me for fifteen. My young teenage son is turning 20 on Friday and apparently I will be celebrating 27 years of marriage in May. I know it is cliché but where did the time go and why is it speeding up? I decided to check the oracle (Google) and here is what I learned:

Scientists have theories and one of them is that when you experience something for the very first time, more details, more information gets stored in your memory. That's because when it's the "first", there are so many things to remember. The list of encoded memories is so dense, reading them back gives you a feeling that they must have taken forever. But that's an illusion. "It's a construction of the brain," says Dr. Eagleman. "The more memory you have of something, you think, 'Wow, that really took a long time! So, first memories are dense. The routines of later life are sketchy. The past wasn't really slower than the present. It just feels that way.

Well, this is a very helpful discovery! I understand now that to slow down the passing of time I must begin to que up some new firsts. A "time stopper" list for the coming years... Let me know what you would put on your list.

This is going to be fun!

Where is everyone?

It has been a great week, life really is better when you focus on acceptance instead of change. This does not mean I am giving up the dreams of a guitar solo or completing the book I started years ago with a friend, but dreaming and changing are two completely different animals.

Dream even sounds better because everything is possible. Change, on the other hand, sounds harsh and demanding. You can't draw out the word change like you can the word dream. Example: Dreeeaaamm, or Dreamy, that is very nice. Now try change: Chaaannggee or changey, it simply does not work. So aging is not about creating a new self, it is accepting the self that has been in the game all along and enjoying both old and new adventures.

I have several ideas about adventures and one is and always has been listening to a great band and dancing. I was able to do that this weekend at an event called Oak on the Ice. The hours for the music were perfect - 7:30PM - 10PM. The venue was unusual because it really was on a frozen lake, but they had a tent and the floor was covered with straw so you didn't slip.... too much.

I know for myself that my appetite for late nights is failing as quickly as my ability to read printed pages, so whenever there is band that is starting before 8:30PM I am all in. I actually have been throwing around an idea of opening a club. The name of the club would be Mid-Life Crisis. There would be live music on the weekends and the band would start at 7PM and everyone would be home in bed by 11PM.

This seemed like a brilliant idea considering the demographics of our community, but after this weekend I am not so sure. My friend and I arrived early so we could get a seat for this big name band. You can see from the picture above that we were very effective. Even though the band stopped at 10PM sharp it didn't really fill up till almost 9PM. Maybe the idea of dancing before 9PM is just too radical or maybe nobody has "dreamed" it was possible to have a place to go that aligns with their maturing sleeping patterns. Patterns, I believe, that God has put in place to gently introduce us to the idea of not driving at night in another couple of decades.

I am heading to DC tomorrow to do a training on organizational change for the Office of Personnel Management. I wonder what they would do if I introduced the training as organizational dreaming?

Change Is Great! You Go First....

This will be a brief blog as I am very tired from shoveling 2 feet of snow that has fallen over a period of 48 hours. It started out okay because I purchased a very beautiful, two cycle, shiny, red snow blower on December 16th of this year. Her name is Sunflower and I can clear the driveway, patio and sidewalk in less than an hour. Unfortunately she sucked up a rug last night and that was the end of snow removal nirvana.

The rug was my fault, although I wasn't operating her at the time. There was a big patch of ice on the driveway and every time I stepped on it I fell down. In my mind it made sense to lay a couple of rubber back rugs over the ice so when you step you don't slip. Rugs are very hard to see under the snow and even if you tell someone to be very careful about the rugs that doesn't mean he will remember. You get the idea... Fortunately Sunflower was repaired this evening after I had shoved manually for a total of 3 hours.

Which brings me to tonight, six weeks into being (conceptually) 50 and not a single change has taken root in my new, mature world:

Health Eating - Nice idea if you have a personal chef

Exercise - You exercise, I have to shovel

Saying No - Saying and doing are two different things

I am ready to watch a good infomercial that will help me find the keys to the kingdom of change. Nobody ever said change was easy, although something so very essential should be. Maybe that is where I should be starting, with something easy. Ha! That's it, starting today I give up shoveling!

Here is a clip of Jack the trainer in the snow today, narrated by Sam who is stranded at home waiting for weather to clear before heading back to college.

A Day for Love!

Excellent news on the travel front, I landed without incident to myself or my neighbor in the next seat. My trip to the Big Easy was just that, easy and enjoyable. As stated in prior blog, the suspension of all good intention went off without a hitch and I was able to enjoy everything New Orleans had to offer. Deep fried soft-sided crab po-boy (some would call it soft shell but the idea of eating, even a soft shell, did not appeal to me) bread pudding, jambalaya, hurricane(s), beignets and best of all... the music. I can honestly say I didn't act my age, which could actually become my mantra for the years head.

After that I had a wonderful weekend with family visiting the north shore and it was difficult to come back to the reality of everyday life. I am so glad today is a holiday so I could carry on the festive mood I have been enjoying for the last 7 days. Actually, it was difficult to keep that spirit alive since I worked all day. Fortunately my beautiful daughter dropped over on her way to an interview and brought me a wonderful, homemade, valentine card. Of course this put me right in the spirit of Valentine's day and I thought it would be appropriate to share my thoughts on the very important topic of Love.

Love is patient, love is kind... Oh, never mind, that one has been done. Maybe this task is not so easy. I have consulted Google on "what is love" and apparently Google believes it has something to do with romance, silly Google. Romance is more about joy (fleeting joy), bliss (fleeting bliss) and pleasure (you get the idea).

I also don't think "things" play into love, even though we all talk about loving our things. Real love can only happen between two living beings (including pets) because when you give it you can feel the effect, and that effect, inevitably, without a doubt... is perfection. You can physically feel it when you are looking at someone you love; a tightness in your center and sometimes a knot in your throat.

You don't even have to be looking at someone you specifically love to have the feeling come over you. My friend Amanda and I were going through security in New Orleans and there was an older woman in the line in front of us. She was lovely in a serene way that only someone over 80 can pull off. Her adult daughter and granddaughter were saying goodbye to her and they were quietly crying and hugging each other. There was something so tangible in that moment, so strong, that when Amanda and I finally looked at each other we both had tears in our eyes. Sometimes witnessing love is almost as great loving someone.

Fortunately I was able to pull Amanda out of this emotional stupor by making up stories about how secretly the daughter was so glad to have her nagging mother finally heading home, but neither of us really believed that.

Defying Gravity

As I wrote the title, Defying Gravity, for this week's blog I wondered what would come to peoples mind as they read it. Would the assumption be that a woman of a certain age is probably planning an intervention to defy the powerful pull gravity has on the human figure? Not that thought hasn't crossed my mind, but no, not seeking gravity defying/restoration procedures anytime in the near future.

What is going on this week is that I am traveling to New Orleans tomorrow for a conference. When you need to get to a place that is too far to drive, you take a plane... that is where the defying gravity title comes in. I fly quite a bit these days, but I am still not comfortable with the idea of shooting into the air, being propelled by highly flammable jet fuel in the hopes of landing, safely, on what appear to be two very, very small sets of wheels, at your destination. There is perceived risk in this mode of travel and as with most things in life, perception is much more powerful than reality.

I worry about the people who have to sit next to me when I fly alone. I try very hard to be sophisticated, especially when I get upgraded to first class. They do frown on screamers in first class so much more than in coach. In coach you can blend in with the masses, so if you happen to hit an air pocket and let out a bit of a scream you simply close your eyes and face away from everyone. Nobody, or very few people at least, will know who caused the brief commotion.

Fortunately, I have the screams pretty well controlled, it is the inadvertent grasping of my neighbor that I need to work on. I feel like I am the only one this happens to, we can be flying along, very smoothly and then it happens UT (unexpected turbulence). Immediately and without hesitation I will grab my neighbors arm. It is like my hand has a life of its own and tries to abandon me when faced with a fearful situation and attach itself to a more stable individual.

What this "issue" has taught me is that deep in the heart of every flyer is this fear. You know how I know? Nobody ever gets mad at me. I always apologize right away and inevitably they smile, say they understand and they hardly ever change seats.
The last flight I was on I was sitting next to a lovely young girl, she must have been about my daughters age. We hit some bumps and my infidel hand went flying over to her arm and latched on. I pulled my hand back and apologized sincerely, but a moment later the plane hit more turbulence and I had grabbed her arm again. I just looked my seatmate and shook my head and you know this sweet young girl said? She said, "that's okay, you can hang onto me if it helps."

My mission during my travels this week and on my journey to fifty is to work on shifting from the one who needs holding to the one who holds.

Before signing off for the week I wanted to let you know that all updates regarding lifestyle changes will be suspended until after February 14th. Because of the risk of air travel it is important that when I board the airplane, I have recently consumed some of my favorite foods, avoided rigorous exercise and am well rested for what could possibly be the last day of my life.

Who Dat?!?!

Since I’m on the same journey (slip-sliding into 50), but on a slightly different path than my dear friend Kathy, I thought I would jump in and be a guest blogger on her site.  Now keep in mind that I usually play the ‘straight-man’ to Kathy’s razor sharp wit, so this probably won’t have the chuckle factor that you usually expect and appreciate from Kathy.  But, as my French ancestors probably used to say, “c'est la vie” (such is life).

Speaking of life, and all it’s idiosyncrasies, I thought I would share a phrase that really struck a cord with me this month. 

Most people think about age and experience in terms of years, but it’s really only moments that define us.  We stay mostly the same and then grow up suddenly, at the turning points.*                     

*Taken from Glenn Beck’s new thriller, the Overton Window.

You see, this gem of truth is both funny and poignant at the same time.  For the funny – (ok, here goes, but don’t say I didn’t warn you that Kathy is the true comedian here):

….We stay mostly the same….

How many of you have been walking along, minding your own business, and happen to glance in the glass panes of the building next to you, or in the mirror/reflection of the elevator, and wonder to yourself – Hmmmm, who is that old person?  And then in one excruciating moment of clarity you realize, Holy Cannoli, that’s me!

Wait.  I’m still 25, right?   

N -O   …………. NO! 

Wait.  I’m old?!?

Y-E-S  ……….YES!

Wait.  If I’m nice to the young man at the Starbucks counter, then I could be mistaken for a cougar?

You.  Bet.  Cha.

Ok, so after I pull myself out of an oozing pit of self-pity, I start to realize maybe this isn’t as bad as I thought.

…… (we) then grow up suddenly, at the turning points…..

Although my reflection-revelation about age could be one of the turning points Mr. Beck is speaking of, I’m thinking it’s really not.    So I start to think about the ‘turning points’ of my life, and how those have affected me.  I decide to consider them neutrally, without emotion, to see if I can understand how they have changed me – again, without emotions like remorse, anger, joy, etc.    And to realize what these ‘turning points’ have done in my life, and others.

Moving away from MN for 17+ years.  I learned a lot about other people, cultures and cities (as well I came to appreciate MN all over again.   Realizing I still hate cold weather/MN winters as much as I did in my 20’s.

Having/raising children.    Learning that I know SO MUCH LESS than I thought I did.  Learning that a mother’s love is FIERCE, and PRECIOUS, and there is nothing like it on earth. 

Financial crises.  Learning that chasing after THINGS just isn’t worth it – stuff is just empty trinkets when you are worried about getting food on the table.  Learning that I have come to value security more than adventure.  (perhaps this is the ‘older, more mature me’ surfacing?).

Friends battle with cancer……winning…….and losing.   Life, moments, with family and friends together, are precious. 

So the turning points, whether crisis or celebrations, are to be savored.  How they change you is your choice – only you can allow change, good or bad, in your life through your choice in how you respond to these defining moments.

So, I guess I’m really not 25 inside anymore.  (I certainly can attest to the fact I’m not 25 on the outside).

And.  That.  Is.  Good.

Hello 50, here I come!

The longest month of the year is OVER!

I just want to share that I am so grateful this month is over. January always starts off on a down note, the holidays are over, reality engages, resolutions begin along with an entire twelve months to ride the roller coaster between success (lost 10 pounds) and guilty confusion (down 2 pounds?). Fortunately I was raised Catholic and I am comfortable with the cycle, leaning a bit more to the guilty confusion than the success aspect, but comfortable none the less.

As I work my way towards the big five-oh, I believe it is important to focus on success. When I was very young I was pretty sure that my successful adult life would include a brief stint as a movie star followed by a happy home life being a mother and wife. As I became more familiar with reality I realized that I would have to work, very hard, outside the home, for a really, really long time. I definitely had to redefine what success was going to be for me.

Looking back, I can honestly say I am amazingly successful. I don't have a huge house, vacation home, or new cars (I have a somewhat expensive Italian Greyhound (birthday gift) pictured above recovering from a night on the town). I do have my family: Mark, our children Mckenzie and Sam, my mother, sisters, brothers, in-laws, friends and lots of nieces and nephews. Also, I started a company in the mid 1980's that allows me to travel and teach about a subject I love. Almost best of all - I don't ever have to work for mean people, how many of us can say that?

So, I say ya me! I understand what success is.... for me. When I go out into the world and see what a pain in the ass success can be for other women I want to tell them, "You can define success!" You don't need to be in the C-suite or on a board of directors. There is so much more than 65+ hour workweeks, you just have put down the Kool-Aid.

There is a brand out there called SUCCESS. The dickhead, Jack Welsh, summed it up a couple of years ago at a national conference. Welch said, "those who take time off for family could be passed over for promotions if "you're not there in the clutch." Also, "Women who take time off can still "have a nice career," but their chances of reaching the top are smaller." Someone needs to introduce Jack to the definition of "the top". I tried calling him a couple of times this week, still waiting for him to get back to me. I will keep you posted.

Final note for the week... I fell down! I clearly stated last week that this is officially off the table, but apparently not. It wasn't even a reasonable fall down, like outside, on the ice. I was rushing into the kitchen to get the low fat popcorn out of the microwave before it burned. No worries, both popcorn and self came through without incident.

Don't Forget to Say No!

I think it is important to provide an update on my improved lifestyle accomplishments to date:

I have lost eight pounds but am only down three... Exercise is going very well, I am doing yoga twice a week, weights three times a week and walking daily. My trainer continues to encourage me although when the temperature dipped into the -20's Friday and Saturday I had to say no! Brown eyes or no brown eyes, it was reported on the news that any more than 5 minutes outside could result in frostbite (there was mention of not wearing protective clothing, but why risk it). I walk on two legs and he walks on four therefore I had to take matters into my own hands.

Sunday morning I had made plans with Mark (husband) to go ice fishing. There had been a rumor of a warm up, unfortunately when I checked the temp yesterday at 5AM it was -15 with a colder wind chill. I really didn't want to go, I considered just "maning up" (MS Word wants me to use two n's in maning, but I think I have this one right) and heading out when I heard this wise voice in my head, "you don't have to". It was my first NFE (Near Fifty Experience).

I don't know if I can put words to the power that voice had, not just on my morning (saving me from an NFTDE, near freezing to death experience) but the rest of my life. I have toyed with "no" in the past, not for big things, like saying no to my children, but small things like I am not going to work out today. I have decided I can use this word for good.

So far I said No! to watching the football games yesterday. Who won by the way? No! to practicing the guitar (that was an inappropriate use of the word no). I have decided to use No! on anyone who yells at me, whether they can hear me from my car or not. I am getting to old wise to be yelled at and I am not going to tolerate it. If it is possible, I would like to say No! to falling down, now and in the future. It is shocking to fall down and it should be reserved for those who are very young and/or participating in sports.

I have spent much of the past 24 hours really considering how to use this two letter gem going forward and know I must proceed with caution. My plan is to spend the week working with this new tool, measuring the impact it has on relationships, resources and my general well being. All findings will be shared on Monday, January 31st.

The Down Side of Thinking Too Much

Another week has come and gone and so much has happened. First, we all need to stop and understand that if you follow this "Mock" Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe on the Food Network website you can pretty much change any ill feelings you ever had about cauliflower. There is nothing more I can say, just try it and then come back and tell me how right I was.

So the healthy food program had been going very well, until I fell into a pitcher of Bloody Mary's at Sunday brunch. That's okay, I will just pick up where I left off... tomorrow. I am not sure why, but when I veer off a path, it definitely takes me 48 hours to get back on and that includes my new exercise regimen. (MS Word is my friend, I was going to type regiment and it underlined it in blue, not like it was a bad thing, it did not make me feel ashamed of using the wrong word, just a mild underline that encouraged me to check further into the use of the word regiment.)

We had a bit of a scare on Friday night. Our old black lab, Magic, had an episode which caused him to lose the use of his back legs for over an hour. It happened again on Sunday and we thought today might be the day we say goodbye. He is 14 years old, bow legged in the front with hip dysplasia in the back. We carry him up and down the stairs now because he insists on sleeping in our room. We took him to the vet today just to make sure he wasn't suffering and the vet said he seems to be comfortable so we took him home and made him some turkey wild rice soup.

Magic is a highly evolved dog. From the very beginning he understood his role in our family was to love and protect. If you ever read the book The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein, Magic is just like the dog who narrates the book. According to Garth's take on Buddhist reincarnation a dog comes back as a human after he has successfully lived the best dog life possible. I like to think that Magic will come back as a human too.

That is the down side of having a pet, chances are good you will outlive them. As I was sitting at the vet today I started thinking about death. As stated in an earlier blog: yahoo member shared - "turning 50 means you're just old and closer to dying". I had a very odd realization... Eventually, almost everyone I know will die OR, eventually, I will die before everyone I know. Does that make sense?

Death is definitely something I need to think about on this journey. There is an art to it. My mother's mother, Nonny, died in 1991. I was with her days before she passed and I could see that she was getting close, but she just laid quietly in bed with a bit of a smile on her face. I told her I couldn't come and kiss her because I had a terrible cold. I think she knew I couldn't kiss her because I was crying so hard, but didn't want her to see it. Silly of me to think I could tell her I didn't want her to catch my cold as she lay on her deathbed. But, she had mastered the art, she knew what I needed to believe and she let me.

I have had a few other people close to me that have died, my father, my neighbor, my friend Margo. I have stealthily skipped all deathbed scenes. I don't think I can keep pulling that off (if I want to master the art) whether I am sitting by it or laying in it.

Well, that was fun.. I am going to get some ice cream before I get back on track tomorrow.

Happy Birthday.... kind of

The 9th of January has come and gone and, if life really does begin at conception, I am now 50 years old. I can really tell too, I am much more responsible than I was last week. Keeping commitments, attending meetings, driving slower (NOT) and planning for retirement.

I have taken on a trainer to help keep me on track to my new and improved healthy lifestyle. His name is Jack, he has the most amazing brown eyes and I can't say no to him when he reminds me it is time for our workout. He shows up at my office about 3:00PM, Monday through Friday, even though he knows our program isn't suppose to begin until after 4:00PM. To get him off my back I take him to the kitchen and give him a bowl of food. It take about 4.5 seconds for him to eat that up and back to my office he comes.

He really puts the pressure on, sometimes pacing back and forth until I finally switch off my light and we get ready. I like to keep him guessing, he never knows for sure if I committed to the workout until he sees me put on my boots and open the door. His enthusiasm is contagious and by the time we get to the park for our walk we are both ready to tackle the cold and enjoy the outdoors, walking briskly for 30 - 45 minute depending on the temperature. His gratitude for my hard work is paid when we get home and sit in front of the fire where he curls up next me and wags his tail.

My other goal for the beginning of this year, this journey, was to get back to my musical side. I wouldn't call it a side, perhaps just a great love for making music.. Not good music, pretty much just noise, but if nobody is around I really enjoy it. Did you know they have karaoke online? You can pull up any song and sing it. Be careful if you record it though, you can sometimes be disappointed when you play it back.

I also took out my guitar, which hadn't been touched in about a decade. Since I don't have an ear for music I have to use a battery operated tuner, but the battery in mine was dead. So, I made another new discovery! There is an app for that! It was great, I paid $1.99 and my guitar is now perfectly tuned. Unfortunately I became distracted by all the possible applications for my new android that my guitar is back in the corner. But that's okay, it is in the corner of my office which is closer to me than it was when it was in the living room. Baby steps... I have a long time to lean.

The Launch Sequence Has Been Deployed

Okay, let's get this countdown started. Let me just say that the past two weeks have been wonderful and full of goodbyes. I did my very best to eradicate the house of tasty foods and managed to consume all holiday related treats by 10PM last night. I was worried for a bit that I wouldn't be able to get it done, but (reaching around to pat myself on the back) I am always up for a challenge. I also wanted to enjoy some of the fine foods I will be saying goodbye to for a while. I had a lovely Big Mac and a sausage McMuffin with egg, chili dog, left over party appetizers, potato chips, and... Oh, I better stop, I am getting hungry.

This time of year also prompted me to go though all my stuff and try to downsize. In the basement I found a set of TV trays. Like so many things I believe their time has come and gone, it seems like this piece of civilization is only used by people over 80 these days. The rest of us just lean over our laps in front of the TV, no need for a tiny table, especially if you have a dog.

Other items I have decided to remove from my life include my fax machine. I will no longer be receiving faxes because those little ink cartridges are very expensive and now that I have a scanner there is no need. I have an old tape recorder I was going to dump, but I came across a tape I made when I must have been about 9 years old that contained the sounds my friend Kathy Olson and I making funny voices and laughing, oh the good old days.

Finally, I painted my living room. Gone is the darkish, rose colored room. In with the new, light tan color. So, fully armed for the new year I was out of bed at 5:45AM, yoga for 45 minutes, tall glass of lemon water and some lovely veggies for lunch. Roasted cauliflower for an afternoon snack and a dinner of sautéed cabbage for dinner. Perhaps I should sleep in the guest room tonight. Only three days of this to purge my system of two weeks of abuse and then... Who knows!