LONG TIME NO BLOG

I got tired of being tired and always whining and decided not to post until I had something to say which didn't

include bike riding or complaining.

So, let's see.

My son Zac has been accepted to grad school at Portland State University.  In September he will start working toward his MA in Education, Educational Leadership and Policy with a specialization in Post-secondary, Adult and Continuing Education.  He will also be certificated in Service Learning and something else I can't remember right now...So proud of him, though very unhappy he will be so far away after all these years of being able to hang out with him in lovely Monterey...  He promises he will come back to California but I know these things evolve on their own.

Our Maggie, being a case in point far away in Philadelphia.  She is being pursued for a new, very exciting opportunity which I will not reveal until it is a done deal.  I will mention that my dear friend and high school BFF was visiting Philly last week, had lunch with Maggie and had lovely things to say about her.  Proud mommy, me.

Allison is a week or so away from starting her senior year - though it looks like it may be more like 3 semesters to finish her degree.  She has already started a challenging internship which she will toil through this summer - but it is actually paid!

I have signed on to Mrs. G's Baby Steps Challenge and my goal is to handle the annoying people I must deal with at work - actually, I need to deal with the way I deal with them better.  My new mantra is something about there always being waves but we can learn to surf.  I searched Pinterest for a nice graphic to go with the pithy saying but came up with stupid looking things written on driftwood with little anchors and crap like that...  So I am visualizing the ocean and taking deep breaths and thinking about surfing waves when people are pissing me off.  That and getting my desk changed to another space away from all the craziness are really helping!  I also got a new computer which actually works efficiently and has a gigantic monitor.  Cool.

Tom and I were cheered to learn while watching 60 Minutes last night that we are doing the right thing for our longevity by exercising, socializing and going to Happy Hour at least 2 times a week.  In fact the suggestion that we have 2 drinks a day may add another couple of cocktails to the week.  Whoohoo!

FRIDAY FAST ONES

1.)  I guess am settling into being 60 now.  I actually piped up and asked for the Senior Discount at
Walgreens yesterday - 10% off every Tuesday!


2.)  We went to see American Hustle last Saturday - what a powerhouse cast of amazing actors.  It was second only to Blue Jasmine on my movie list for the year.  We also saw Inside Llewyn Davis  a week or so ago - a bit slow moving but the music was great.  Tom wants to see Nebraska this weekend - anyone seen that one?

3.)  Having 10 days off work was great and really made me look forward to having every day off work...


4.)  We took our new bike rack out for the first time last weekend - we drove to Martinez and then rode our bikes over the Benicia Bridge, all around the downtown and marina and then back to Martinez.  It was about 22 miles altogether.

It was another amazingly warm winter day - we don't know how much longer this weather is going to hold but plan to take advantage of it while it is here.


5.)  Finished our book club selection Cukoo's Calling, which was very good and dove right into The Goldfinch which is sooo excellent.  I have read one good book after another this past year.  So satisfying.

6.)  One of the owners of the company I work for had a hissy fit a few months ago when the flu started going around and made a big deal about everyone getting a flu shot.  She quizzed everyone for weeks about getting the shots and freaked out when I was stuffed up even when I assured her it was just allergies.

This week she came into work sick as I have ever seen anyone.  We were all just cringing and practically bathing in hand sanitizer.  Her daughter is our office manager and kept telling her to go in her office, close the door and keep away from everyone but she just kept dragging people in there or walking around touching the door handles, the printer and the schedule book which is kept on my desk.  We sanitized everything in her wake.

Now we are all watching each other for signs that we caught her bug (it appears it might have been H1N1 and she finally got drugs from her doctor) - so far I think we dodged the bullet.

This weekend will tell.  Hope you all have a nice, healthy one!

AN INTOLERABLE INDIGNITY

I enjoyed Aaryns recent post on Derwad Manor about ageing with style, and understand Jenns concerns coming up on a "big" birthday and the fears, questions and disbelief expressed by many bloggers I read who are dealing with getting older in general.

I am trying to remember when I started with those thoughts myself - but since I didn't have the twins until I was 35 and Ally until 40 - I was always the "older" mom in any setting.  I didn't sweat the looks part too much, I let my pre-mature grey hair go undyed at 48 and since I was overweight all of my adult life, vanity obviously didn't have much of a grip on me.  Not to mention I have been a lifelong sun lover and never took many pains to hide behind a hat or sunscreen - I made my wrinkles and blotchy face and enjoyed it!

I was more into being youthful in mind and spirit.  Having kids keeps you in the game when it comes to so many things - music, pop culture, fashion and so I have felt pretty with it for most of the past 20 years!  Now, I am facing 60, the kids are out of the house and I have lost some of my interest in being tuned in to the youth culture.

All of that is okay.

However, the solo, 2 inch long, silver  hair which I spotted growing out of the underside of my forearm is NOT OKAY.  It is like those pimples which occasionally appear in the middle of my wrinkly face.  These indignities are not to be tolerated.