New Decisions

When to get up
When to shower
Which pair of leggins
When to eat breakfast
When to eat lunch
Is it a Tea or coffee day
When to turn on the news
When to turn off the news
Rent or buy
Netflix,  Prime or Hulu
Should I wear earrings in so the holes don’t close up
When/If to exercise

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10

ISO: Social Cohort

Look at me getting into a little blog habit again.  It’s the end of the day and I thought maybe I should spit one of these blogs out quickly before I turn off this laptop for the day. If for nothing else to brush up on my writing skills.  I am noticing now how all these celebrities are stealing my idea of checking in everyday – only they’re doing it with video chats. They share just as much nonsense as I do.  The difference is people follow them.  Lol. 

I am thrilled with the good news on my local news channel about how people are coming together and giving, giving, giving.  It is so heartwarming. I watched Outbreak over the weekend (from 1995 – with Dustin Hoffman and Morgan Freeman and a ton of others).  Our situation is not the same as in Outbreak as they were soooo sick.  Also, they portrayed humans as being violent and crazy and so far that doesn’t seem to be the case.  We’re either just loving each other or partying (yes I’m talking about you Florida people) – Let’s hope our goodness maintains until the end.

Mom and I have a somewhat debate about what/who is behind this.  She believes the “dark forces” are behind most things.  I disagree, I said I think this is God.  I think he/she’s saying…”look people, I’m giving you one more chance.  You either come together or I’m killing you all..”  lol… Well think about it.  The virus hits us all, no matter social status, or politics, color or race, everyone is affected.  Other than the one’s dying (sorry that’s not funny) the symptoms are not that bad. I am very aware that I could lose my mom to this if she would get it, but I also could lose her to pneumonia. I’m over 60 as well so you know I could also go down.  But then I’ll just assume I’m needed on the other side.  My point is, so far, this seems to be bringing good out in the majority of us.  If we prove to God that we can all get along maybe he won’t wipe us all out and start over. I even sent a tweet today to Adam Schiff in support of a Trump interview clip.  It was unacceptably edited and very misleading as to the true interview.  Trump looks bad enough, you don’t need to make up stuff.  We all need to be careful what we are viewing and believing and watching.  I’m pretty much just streaming Netflix and Hula.  I suggest Harlan Coben’s various Neflix series – The Stranger, Safe and The Five.  He’s such a good writer.

I read an article today about how they’re calling the groups we live with, in this time of sheltering-in-place, our social cohort.  We’re allowed to hang out with and even “touch” those we live with who are in our social cohort.  I do not have a social cohort.  I usually balance this with a call to friends to meet for lunch or a walk or porch visit.  Those are off now. Everyone keeps asking me if I at least have a dog. I do not. I am not allowed pets.  I am thinking of running an ad to see if there might be someone else looking for a social cohort.

How to get to know someone quick. Shelter-in-place together.

xoxox

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8

What’s your sign?

Are you thinking it too?  Are you wondering since I’m going to be working from home, without visitors, will I move back to Florida?  Has it crossed your mind?  Interesting, it’s crossed my mind too.  Just briefly. Long enough to have me looking online at trailers in Port Orange. The immediate and logical answer is of course I’m not going to move.  My whole family is here and my friends, the ones that still like me, I have a social life here, babies (great nieces and nephews) and now of course my new grand-dog Daisy.

I got a notice today that my electricity usage for the week has increased by 46%.  That’s mostly due to my heater that I have on 12-7 (that’s 12 hours a day).  I’m sitting in my kitchen for work and it’s cold here in this room.  COLD.  I have plans to move to my upstairs quiet room where it is much brighter and warmer but I need to get set up (a desk) first.  I’m also not excited about giving up my quiet room.  That’s when I looked at this listing. 

https://www.trulia.com/property/4062182258-39-Cypress-In-The-Wood-Wood-Port-Orange-FL-32129?mid=6#lil-mediaTab

I’m not crazy about those kitchen cabinets but the desk on photo #7…well it’s like Miracle on 34th street.  A sign when young Natalie Wood sees the cane in the corner of the house?  I’ve been asking the good Lord for signs. I have a lot of deadlines and decisions to make, as usual, and well is this a sign?  What if it’s a sign to buy now while we are sequestered and then when it’s time to go back to work up here, rent it out and keep it to have when I retire and become a snowbird.  When it’s time to go back to work in the city, then I can come back up north and rent something again up here.  I have no problems living in a trailer in Florida, but I can’t bring myself to live in a trailer in PA.  At least not in a trailer park.  Also I am looking for an “investment” and trailers are not that.  Heavy sigh.

My mind…

It’s a wonder..

I told my brother earlier today that I was going to buy an RV and park it on our 1-acre lot that we still have in Virginia and live by the creek.  I’d have to pay my siblings off though.

I have to tell my landlord in 2 weeks if I’m going to renew my lease.  When I rented this place, I never intended to stay more than a year but I am struggling with where to go.  Houses for sale are selling like crazy. I’ve put in 4 bids so far – lost them all.  All bids are going over asking. I’ve bid on one over asking.  I was $5000 over – another person I heard was $12,000 over – we both lost it. I wonder what it actually went for.  Now I’m looking further out of the city to see if I have more of a chance.  I can’t compete here in the city.  I keep moving further and further away from the city but always thinking about staying close to transportation to the city. 

And now look, we’re not going into the city for the unforeseeable future.  We’re not socializing either.  Does this open more doors? Or close them.

What’s the message Lord? I’m listening…

xoxoxo

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5

Shut in

I’m sitting here thinking what I can do to help out during these times.  I thought about posting on some media site that I would help with food for kids, or deliver meals to shut ins; although maybe Meals on Wheels is still doing that, anyway, then it hit me.  I’ll just blog.  Lol.  I mean I don’t know what kids eat.  Ya know? I only half jest. I could make pancakes and chocolate chip cookies! So maybe I’ll blog AND cook for kids.  I bet my neighbor would cook cookies too.  She is the best baker ever.

So, interesting times don’t you think?  I’m not gonna lie.  It took me awhile to grasp the severity.  In my defense, and many others like me, it’s not like we’ve ever been through anything like this in our life time.  Ya know?  We always get sick.  We’re expected to go to work when we’re sick.  Suzanne gives you dirty looks if you stay home sick.  I mean it’s an expectation in America that you just keep going to work.  So what do we care if we’re sick?  It’s just another day right?  And millions die from the flu every year right?  Okay maybe not millions, but alot? How about that statistic that I never knew until now.  We just fluff it off. We know soandso went into the hospital with a kidney stone and got pneumonia and died and we just write it off as part of getting sick.  What about all the MRSA deaths?  We should get more statistics on that shouldn’t we?  Well, I’m just saying, in our culture we just push through and think being sick is a “sissy” disease.  So I didn’t actually grasp the seriousness of the situation until someone I work with/for, who sits in an office beside me was sent home, quarantined for 14 days expected to have the thing. That’s when it hit me.  I thought well there goes visits to Diane (currently hospitalized with a broken ankle…like severely broken) and visits to mom.  And really I should probably not visit anyone knowing that he might have it and then I might have it?  It really hit me, the trickle-down effect.  Rachel’s mom has leukemia..what if I hugged Rachel?  Janice has a compromised immune system.  My neighbor had me over for dinner with 70-80 year old’s – see how bad it is?  And that doesn’t count all the people I ride the bus and subway with – all those people in the Steel Building, on the elevator, in the bathrooms.  It just made my mind spin with what could happen.  It doesn’t matter that maybe I won’t feel anything, or have symptoms, but what about Rachel’s mom?  Janice?  Those new neighbors?  My mom, Diane?  I mean it goes on and on with who we touch.  An interesting exercise in how connected we all really are.  So putting that into perspective I am happy to stay home.  I do not want to be that girl.

I’ve continued to read up on it and truly believe that if enough people have their come-to-Jesus moment and take this seriously and stay home and sing on our balconies then we will get over this. My mom said “well 1% deaths doesn’t sound bad – does it?”  Well let’s see based on 2019 statistics we have 328,239,523 in the US. 1% of that is 3,282,395.  That’s a lot of people dying JUST from the corona virus. Total number of recorded deaths in a year are about 2,813,503.  So add another 3 million on top of that.. Well it’s a lot.  And a lot all at once.  And there’s the whole stress on the healthcare industry and those that work in it.  I mean just such a snowball.

I don’t know if my numbers are text book accurate but I do think they paint a picture of the seriousness that I eventually came to terms with.  So what will I do with myself?

Luckily the last so many years (not this year but about 4 prior) I’ve been pretty much a loner.  I work and then walk on the beach…alone.  So now I work and I’ll walk on the Mount. And for big entertainment it was a night out at Walmart or sometimes Sushi.  One thing for sure, there is nothing I need to go to Walmart for.  I can have my food delivered.  I got out of the habit of going for Sushi mainly because I don’t know where to go.  I’m marinating some Ahi Tuna at this very moment though.

A few years ago (turns out quite a few) I worked from home so I’m used to that as well.  So this is just bringing up so very nice memories of those times.  Every day (the last two days) I have promised to go walking/running at lunch just to get some fresh air and see my favorite view of the city.  I haven’t done it yet, but I will!  Tomorrow is the day.

I went online today to try and find a proper computer desk as the angle of my kitchen table is giving me carpal tunnel already, but this is not a complaint, just an observation.  I found a computer desk on CraigsList.  I wonder if they’ll leave it on the curb for me to swing by and pick it up.  I can Venmo them. Right?  I mean there are workable solutions.

Jimmy has already apologized for not visiting, saying he’s staying away from me and his dad (for our benefit – yea right).  Zachary and Rachel stopped by on Saturday night, and then I sent them an apology the next day for hugging them.  It’s weird times.

The very best I see is the humanity that is coming out in most of us. Not counting the panic over toilet paper (and what’s that about?) it seems like so many people are thinking of ways to help out.  I saw a story about a restaurant giving away free food to the poor and the owner said he’ll keep doing it until we get back to normal or he goes bankrupt.  Ya know?  I mean Humanity is the best.  We really are good at our souls. We may be skeptics, but who can blame us with how often we’re lied to, we don’t know what to believe anymore, so we need to believe in ourselves.  Just like me, I was skeptical until the guy at work with a fever sneezed on me.  And I thought, oh man, I get it. (turns out he was not tested, they said he didn’t qualify – just regular sick I guess)

I don’t talk much about the company I work for.  It’s big.  It’s healthcare.  Imagine how crazy my work place is. And I don’t know the half of it since my department is construction.

Well, that’s it.  Notes from me on day 2 of our social distancing.  I’ve gone from my beautiful 60th floor views to sitting in this dungeon of a kitchen that I have.  I’m working on moving my spot to upstairs so I can be by a window at least and look outside.  It won’t take me long at all to adapt.  That’s my super power.  Resilience. Adapting. Moving on.

What’s your super power?

xoxoxo

**Disclaimer – all health conditions mentioned above our hypothetical..except Diane really did break her ankle.

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8

Dishing

Incase you are wondering, my obsession with dinnerware/plates continues or more accurately has resurfaced. I am a possessed person.  I am having so much fun being back home and starting over.  Although, sometimes I’m pissed about all the stuff that I used to have, between my stuff and my mom’s house that now I have to rebuy, like an ironing board.  When I think about the things we left in mom’s house I just lose my mind.  She had a GREAT ironing board.  I’m glad when I stopped by her house on my way up from Florida last year with the packed Penske truck, that I at least grabbed what I did – the box of dishes we had from my childhood was all I could fit in the packed truck.  I salvaged three dinner plates from my mom’s old set, a lot of salad plates, small appetizer plates and cups and saucers!!  Nobody uses small cups like that anymore.  We are such a supersized society and only drink out of 24 oz size mugs.  Anyway anyway, so back to plates.  In Florida right before I moved (or knew I was moving) I bought dinner plates from Pier One – 4 of them – coastal themed.  Not those melamine plates mind you, the real china ones.  They were on sale (of course) and, well, I thought back then I would start rebuilding in Florida, but noooo.   Anyway, I have the plates up here and they are lovely and they are currently in a box with the rest of my summer melamine (pool) dishes in a closet. 

My first family get together after moving into my current residence when there was 4 of us, well I needed new plates didn’t I?  I am trying to remember why I didn’t think those coastal beachy plates were good enough.  Because at the time there were only 4 of us – and I have glasses to match – oh wait I remember, there are FIVE of us.  That’s right – that’s why I needed to buy more dishes.  Jimmy now has a lovely girlfriend and so there are now five of us.  That’s when I ended up at Walmart and decided to go for the shabby chic look with their Pioneer Woman design and got six plates and none of them match, but they are the same designer, so you know kinda the same.  I had visions of us all claiming our dish and then always using that one.  Wouldn’t you know the next time everyone is over isn’t until Thanksgiving.  Could I use the same plates?  Of course not!  It’s a holiday.  I need holiday plates.  Guess who had a sale on plates? Wayfair. Their ads that pop up on every blessed site I look at are very effective and I’m weak and I bought 6 orange (excuse me, pumpkin color) plates for Thanksgiving.  I thought well this is perfect.  They are a fall color and I can use them all fall.  I had a very lovely Thanksgiving table although I didn’t like my placemats this year, so I was also looking at new placemats today for next year.  But then decided I have a year to get new ones. I have showed great restraint by waiting.

My next rebuilding involves Christmas dishes.  Last year Donna Cooper asked me about all my dishes.  I had to remind her they are all gone.  But sad as that is…how fun is it now?  Fun and expensive but holy moly I get lost in a rabbit hole looking at patterns.

Back in the day I had everyday Christmas plates that were a wedding gift from my mom in 1982.  I used them as my everyday plates every year.  They are now gone. It makes me sad as they were really good every day plates and probably the start of my plate obsession.   I also had a very nice china set that I collected over many years and would display in my china cabinet and actually used a few times and I had almost every piece to match it.  They were very pretty.  They are gone now.  Collecting all of those pieces was a labor of love and patience.  Gone. 

I also have a set of plates that I ONLY use on Christmas morning.  The idea at the time was they were from Santa and so to make them special I only use them on Christmas morning.  I have placemats and napkin holders and napkins that I use with that set. When the kids were little they just loved coming down Christmas morning and seeing that table set with those dishes (mostly the napkin holders)  And guess what?  I still have them!!  I know, right?  Of all the things I have lugged around the country I managed to hang on to them and there are 8 plates!!  Now we can all have a plus 1 and invite two more.  Although we’ve been having Christmas morning at Zach and Rachel’s the past couple of years I think it’s time for me to resume my official duties as matriarch and Christmas morning hostess of the family.

Well anyway, I am now lusting after an everyday Christmas plate set.  Yes of course I could use the Pioneer Woman plates (although I think they have a much more springy and summer feel) or maybe I could use the pumpkin color plates that I bought for Thanksgiving and pair them with red/cranberry placemats – throw in some green and well that just still sounds like Thanksgiving doesn’t it? And no I am not using the Christmas morning plates because they are Christmas morning plates!  You see why I need these new everyday Christmas plates don’t you?  Meanwhile, only Jimmy and Emily come for dinners every once in awhile and I always use my mom’s 3 plates that I rescued from Opus BUT if I had every day Christmas plates I’d use them right?  Or, if I buy these 8 dinner plates (planning for plus 3 in the future) would I then want to save those plates for only a dinner with us all?  Which may or may not ever happen because I think I’m only relegated to the Christmas breakfast and I have those dishes already.  Getting everyone together TWICE in a season may be a little too much to expect.  I could have friends and other family members over and then use the new dinner plates.  That might be a good excuse to have a get together, although not more than 8 at a time.  But, do I also need a new fancy-pants china set too?  In addition to everyday Christmas dishes?  I could have Christmas Teas again but that would involve a heck of a lot of more dishes and a bigger house. And me moving back to Sewickley area because no one is going to make the trip into the city.  Unless I provided shuttle service.  Otherwise I have to make all new friends up on that mount (Mount Washington) and well I would love to see my old friends again, at my house, with my dishes at Christmas time.  But new friends are nice too!

You see this problem don’t you? It starts with dishes and then I realize I need a bigger house so I can invite friends over to use the dishes.  Not to mention storing the dishes in closets that I don’t currently have. So I go from looking at dishes to looking at houses.  Then I can’t decide do I want to stay on Mount Washington where the kids will stop by on occasion because it’s convenient and also I do love it here?  OR do I need to move back home-ish so I can have Christmas Teas again?  And buy MORE dishes? But wouldn’t it be great to have a great big farmhouse country home? Like the featured photo at the top of this blog? Where all the dishes would look so perfect?  This is how it starts, the dreaming, the living in my head.  It starts with dishes.

At one point in my life I remember collecting a lot of broken plates. I was going to make some sort of mosaic tabletop with them so we could always remember the different dishes but dishes are curved and don’t lay flat and I couldn’t figure out how to make something that wouldn’t cut our wrists everytime we sat down. Honestly I’m just not that crafty.  Instead of looking through Wayfair and Pier One (and then Trulia and Zillow) lusting after new dishes and new homes maybe I should be looking at craft sites instead.

Perhaps it will be added to my legacy and on my tombstone, next to what the kids say they’re going to put “known for her chocolate chip cookies…they were o.k.” (that was Zach’s comical addition) but next to that they can say.. she had a lot of dishes.

PS – my new everyday Christmas dishes will be arriving December 12. Thank you Wayfair, you have just what I need.

xoxox

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19

Dear Florida

Dear Florida,

I think about you everyday.  And I think about writing to you everyday, but everyday goes by and I don’t get around to it.  Today, I am going to try and stay with this update.  The trouble is, I have settled into my new/old surroundings.  My family, my friends, my new home, my job are all so new and familiar and my routines of work and home and family and friends keeps me way busy and when I have time off I’m usually just comatose watching TV.  So I apologize for my lack of communication and how it must feel that I’ve abandoned you, without a thought to our time together.  I have not forgotten you.  As I said I think about you everyday.

Where to begin, I am much happier to be back than I thought I would ever be.  All of the elements of life that I was missing in Florida are here. I’m finally feeling settled.  Although I liked all of my residences during my time with you I never really felt settled.  NOW I feel settled. Although I don’t see myself living in this particular house more than a year I know that I am settled in this area and not going to make any knee jerk moves abandoning my family and friends again.  I mean that said, I am all for visiting you and staying for any amount of time but I will never move my permanent residence again. At least I don’t plan on it.  I know I felt a little like a failure when I made the decision to return here but Arthur had a good point.  I wanted to move to Florida for many years, feeling like I was missing something.  Ya know, it’s because I moved too soon back in 1980 when I moved back to Sewickley from Coconut Grove.  I wasn’t ready to move back then and ever since then I felt like there was unfinished business between me and Florida.  And I finally got to return.  Not to south Florida but Florida none the less.  And I had a good go of it. I was able to live in several different areas, meet lots of different people.  I became a writer, a Reiki hospice volunteer, a Gulf sea floater, I made a glass mirror with my glass artist friend, I babysat turtle nests, I helped Tim change his trach, I lived in the woods with my mom for 6 months (that’s another book/letter), put on 20 lbs and became a big beach walker.  I enjoyed the weather everyday, and became friends with little lizards.  I did it.  I lived in Florida, BUT now I’m back.  I got it out of my system and I no longer feel like I’m missing anything.  Although I was always happy with the weather and friends it never felt like home.

Now, I finally feel like I’m home.  I love my neighbors, I love my commute, I see the city everyday with a fresh view in the morning and several views throughout the day from the 60th floor.  Not everyone gets that experience.  It is really special and I am grateful everyday. I see my kids enough, get to help my son entertain his new puppy so he can get his chores done (just like a grandma), I am participating in life.  Lots of social events, dinner, plays, a magic show! A wedding and there is now some traveling in my future.  Nothing major, no European trips yet, but can they be far behind?

Miss Daisy

So how are you doing?  I’m reading some crazy “Florida Man” stuff all the time. Central Florida especially seems to have “too weird to be true” stories.  But other stories that are worrisome are more sharks, more brain eating ameba, and then the hurricane scares.  Of course the north has their share of snow storms which can be just as crippling as hurricanes in stopping business but they are no where near as destructive.  Speaking of snow storms, I’m still not prepared.  I ordered a pair of snow boots from Amazon but I had to return them. They weren’t perfect.  I need to get this taken care of before December.

I’ve been thinking about buying a Lake House.  You know as much as I can “buy” anything, but that’s what I’m dreaming about these days.  I know I could actually buy a Florida condo but I think a Lake/Country house is really what would make me happy. In particular these certain Lake Houses have beautiful sunsets – that is another thing I brought with me from Florida – my love of sunsets.  Soon I’ll be seeing stunning sunrises over the city on my way to work (with the time change) but it’s sunsets that are close to my heart. 

There’s some misnomers that people always think about when they think of Florida.  Bugs being of particular concern.  While it is true that Palmetto bugs can be very offputting (and large) I have more bugs here in my Pittsburgh home than I ever had in Florida.  I am inundated with fruit flies.  They are in every room of my house – not just the kitchen.  I’ve had centipedes, grass hoppers, crickets and today I saw a stink bug.  Centipedes are funny. I had one that was crossing the floor and when it saw me coming it froze, as if he thought if he stayed still I wouldn’t see him.  I had bees living in the wall and had to pay big bucks to have them removed.  I may have over reacted but I was afraid they would get inside the house.  They were yellow jackets, not honey bees, so I didn’t hurt the environment.  Then there are animals, possums, raccoons, deer (although I like them) all on my deck.  In Florida I only remember cats – and lots of them – in DeLand.  Of course I would never want to ever go in standing water because of alligators.  Ever.  I guess that’s why my interest in a Lake House might be surprising but Lakes in Pennsylvania do not have alligators.  At least not yet.  There were 3 alligators caught in Pittsburgh this summer.  That is very unsettling.

I like the cool weather a lot more than I used to.  I don’t think I was having hot flashes when I left Pittsburgh before so that might be helping me appreciate the cooler weather.  I still love the heat but I don’t dread the chill in the air like I might have once.  Actually I like the 50 degree mornings.  I just need to dress better for the afternoon chill.  I will figure this out. 

I have warm-up trips planned to get me through some of the cold months.  California next month and then Florida in January for a wedding. I’ll visit my Stetson friends at that time, if there are any friends left.

Next week I start hospice volunteering again.  They use Reiki volunteers here too so I am looking forward to incorporating that back into my life.

And that leaves writing.  Both Reiki and Writing are my two biggest takeaways from my time with you.  While I will be getting back to Reiki I have yet to find a way to continue writing.  But I will figure it out.  All of this takes time.

Oh and Arthur?  He said had I never gone back to Florida and had that experience I would never feel as settled being back as I do now.  All those years missing Florida, after 1980, and I can finally be happy.  So no failure there.  It is actually a huge win.  Isn’t that something?  Isn’t that Arthur something?

I still have trouble processing all the coming and goings and people that I meet and then leave.  And my love of some of my places where I lived.  The Winn-Dixie in Palm Harbor – I loved looking at the sunsets from the parking lot.  Isn’t that weird?  But a memory that has stuck with me.  A lot of Palm Harbor memories.  A lot of Treasure Island memories too.  DeLand I could take or leave (and leave I did).  I wish I was happier about leaving those Gulf side homes as well.  Well I have my yearly trip to Siesta Key still, I’ll just have to incorporate a ride up the coast every year for some Fireside Pizza.

But for now, I have to figure out what to wear tomorrow.  Today was 90 degrees and tomorrow is going to be 70.  I don’t know what to wear.  Is it long sleeve weather?  Today was so hot.  I did my “gardening” which consisted of dumping out my dead summer plants (in pots), replanting in the ground my summer plants that are still living and struggling to live, buying some mums, and anyway I was soaked through from sweat.  Soaked.through. Now tomorrow it’s long sleeves?  Do I put my summer clothes away?  Next week it might be back up into the 80’s.  I’m not gonna lie.  I still love the hot weather. I just need the closet space.

Don’t be mad that I haven’t written sooner. I’ve been getting settled.  It’s taking longer than I thought but it’s all been good.  Thank you again for all of your help these past years. I do think about you every day and I hope we can keep in touch.  I will always have a piece of you in my heart.

Love,

Lynn

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52

On Golden Pond

If I had my lake house I would be heading up there after work today.  Fall is in the air which seems to make a lot of people around here happy and Fall just seems to be a time to be at a Lake House.  Not that I haven’t lived here all of my life, minus the last 5 years, so I’m used to weather here, but it seems to be an unusually short summer this year.  I remember still being cold in the first week of June just a mere 2 months ago.  JUNE. And it’s not even September yet.  I got through last winter having arrived January 25 knowing there were just a couple more months to go of the frigid stuff. Thinking I have about 10 months to go before I’m “hot” again is making me pretty anxious.  That’s not to say it won’t be miserably hot and humid next week ….I’m just saying…it’s a re-adjustment.  Being gone 5 years is not enough time to forget how much I hate being cold. I’m worried about my coping skills.

I really do want a Lake House.

One of my best memories before I moved to Florida was when I lived in the city and would go to the country on the weekends.  I LOVED that.  The hustle and bustle during the week was balanced by the clean air (near the nuclear power plant?) of the weekends.  I work with someone now who goes to her parents place every weekend at Conneaut Lake – a mere 1.5 hours from the big city.  EVERY weekend.  And has been doing that all her life.  Doesn’t that seem like a great idea?  A lake house for the kids to come to.  Maybe not every weekend – but a visit now and then.  Heck, it’s a struggle to get a visit from them when I’m 3 miles away so I’m dreaming (as usual). That said Jimmy has already offered to buy the boat.  LOL.  He also said I should get a house right on the lake, to which I responded that he would have to buy that as well.  There’s quite a bit of price difference between on the lake and one block back. 

I am not one to let my mind relax as I am already already on to my next “what should I do with myself” living-in-my-head self.  Larry pointed out that I just got settled and maybe I should “set” a bit. I am trying to take his advice into consideration, setting a bit, but it seems like when I decide to set, I get a pop-up notice that a new house has just gone on the market at Conneaut Lake. Or, like today, I’m wearing a summer sweater (a sign of Fall) and thinking this calls for a weekend in the country, except I don’t have a country home…at the moment.  It doesn’t help that I follow #farmhouseliving on Instagram and think about how I would remodel all of those lake houses that I lust after.  This dream of mine is almost as strong as that dream I had to move to Florida that grabbed hold of me in 2007 and never let go until I actually got there! (in 2014) – But that dream was so yesterday and now I’m onto the dream of Lake House living.  It took me 7 years to realize the Florida dream – I wonder how long this Lake House dream of mine will take to achieve OR if I lose interest in it next week.  Who knows, next week the dream could be living in Napa Valley. It’s hard to tell with me.

I love being back home and appreciate my 5-year hiatus for what it was.  A hiatus with a chance to make some new friends and warm up.  But now I am home with family and have a hard time believing I ever left them. It feels like I must have lost my mind there for those few years.  Those babies (my great nieces and nephews) are a source of constant joy.  Today is Mya’s SEVENTH birthday.  I can still pick her up (she’s so tiny) and she’s a cuddler, so even though 7 is like ancient she’s still a baby in my mind.  I can’t imagine moving away again, well at least not further than maybe a Lake House, although I’m okay with being a snow bird.  I’m happy to have the farmer’s market again although where I currently live there is nothing close.  Living in Sewickley you just walk there, every Saturday, and it’s a really good farmer’s market.  Living in Mt. Washington, well you have to drive somewhere, or buy it in the city and lug it home on the bus. Seriously, this is not a problem, I feel ridiculous even bringing it up.

I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing – as you can tell by these sporadic, almost non-existent blogs.  I haven’t found my writing spot at my new place.  I have many areas where I could set up.  I have my mom’s old secretary desk which could be a great place, but sitting there I face the wall.  I have the kitchen table which is comfortable but no window.  I have the couch which could work but none of them are the perfect place…yet.  You know, if I had a Lake House, I bet one of those rooms would work well for a writing studio.  The real reasons are I’m just too busy, I’m uninspired, and I’m not sure what I want to write about.  Have you noticed in life how there’s excuses for no matter what decision you make?  For instance, I could just simply tell myself “it’s not time” for writing again.  I could tell myself “everything happens for a reason” or “you’re effing lazy, get back to it” – I could tell myself “this is not your path anymore – go do Reiki – or make cookies” – I could tell myself “it’s like exercise, I just need to start again” – or I could tell myself “quit thinking about it and if you feel like writing, write, otherwise turn on Hulu”

I’m somewhere between all of them.

There are other things in my life that I have enjoyed and have not been able to maintain (in addition to my weight).  Horseback riding comes to mind.  Horseback riding was my #1 joy in life for many years.  But my riding friends are no longer riding, that I know of.  Aimee just moved to South Carolina. The horses are all dead that we rode.  And I’m not getting any younger, although, I have seen many riders well into their 70’s.  WELL into. The more I get away from it the more intimidating it becomes.  I was never real comfortable with the whole tacking up thing – but once on I was pretty fearless…pretty…my riding friends might disagree.  I would love to get back on.  I still have my helmet and chaps.

You know what really puts a damper on life? It’s the working full-time thing.  I mean, I don’t’ mind my job. Nothing personal against the job this time. It’s not like Stetson where I would cry and wonder WTF every day.  This time it’s a great gig.  I have my city view from the 60th floor. I have time to think about what I’m doing. I’m in the city which is not a bad place to work since I have a relatively short commute. Lately I’ve been remembering all the different places I’ve worked downtown for the past FORTY years. Literally a lifetime in and around downtown Pittsburgh. I have always thought I would have achieved my life’s career goal if I worked for the President of US Steel in the US Steel building.  Well, I work in the US Steel Building.  US Steel is on the 61st floor.  I’m on 60.  I mean close enough.  So one dream realized.  Moving to Florida for 5 years…realized.  Remember, well I remember, when I first had the move-to-Florida-itch saying I just needed 5 years to recoup after my stint as a single parent (it was emotionally exhausting for me)…I might have initially said 10 years…but 5 was good.  I actually think I said I needed 10 years before becoming a grandmother (and 5 years in Florida).  And you know what?  Those 10 years are up.  I think the way life works is you retire and being a grandmother kinda come at the same time…at least in my scripted life. I’m ready for both.

It’s hard to be the one still working when your friends are retiring (and becoming grandmas) – although as evidenced by my friends who are also grandmas, the working full-time gig might be easier.  Could be a case of “careful what you wish for”.  That said I am really looking forward to what comes next.  I feel like I felt when I graduated from high school, or got married, like on the precipice of something new – a new time – a new era.  I am really looking forward to this retirement thing and the next phase of my life. Social Security says I have 5 years and 8 months but the lottery is still a possibility.  Even without the lottery, as evidenced by my blogging, 5 years goes FAST.  It’s coming right up. I need to get that Lake House in order and start the remodel so I have somewhere to retire to.

One of the very best thing of keeping this blog is looking back over it and seeing where I was last year or 5 years ago.  Finally Florida is always fun, and heartbreaking, to re-read for me to see how that whole experience changed over a couple years. Thinking back to last year around this time Tim died (Stephanie’s husband), having just moved into my Daytona Beach apartment– jumped in the car and drove over to St. Pete to be with Stephanie for the weekend. I had put in for a FMLA leave at Stetson to help my mom move out of Virginia, having just listed her house for sale.  As Facebook reminded me today (last year) was the day I left Stetson to drive to Virginia for the 2-week pack up to help mom move.  I did not know it was the start of my end days at Stetson (still remembered with fraught) and the beginning of the end of Florida days. I did not see it coming at all.  This time last year I was still saying (over and over) “I can’t quit my job” and “I will NEVER move back to Pittsburgh.” Once I accepted my fate they turned out to be two of the best moves I’ve ever made. It will be something to look back at this time next year and see where I am.

I can look back over my life and see some of the “dreams” that have come true and those that I never saw coming.

But then again all my changes have been dreams come true…I just didn’t see “how” or “when” they would happen.

And isn’t THAT something to think about?

xoxoxox

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132

Poor Diane

When I moved to Florida everything was brand new. I had a boyfriend, I had all these new kids to interact with, I had a new home, a new weather pattern, a pool, a beach! and because I’m a chatty thing – with this need to communicate – okay maybe it’s just a need to get things out of my head – well that’s when the blog started.  And it was fun because it was all so new.

But now?  It’s just seems like the same ole – same ole – (although really it’s all new again) but I find myself not thinking of anything that seems blog worthy.  I get up, go to work, go home, go to bed. But I still have this need to brain dump daily.  And who is the lucky recipient of these dumps?  Diane.  Poor Diane.  I’m pretty sure after 40 years she just skims them for catch words like “effer” or “bi*ch” or “WTF” – I’m mean she’s busy at her job and doesn’t really have time for my nonsense.  I pretty much have to accept that these dumps are one sided when I send them.  That said she always replies! And I swear she reads them!  Anyway, it’s like these blogs – they are one sided and I have to accept does anyone read them?  It doesn’t really matter, it’s all about the writing.

You might be asking yourself…if you ask yourself anything…what are you saying to Diane that you can’t say in a blog?  And well that answer would be “all kinds of things.” Mostly things you don’t talk about out loud – like how the new girl is not very nice (see I said it anyway) – honestly I’m sitting here knowing I sent a 2-pager email to her last night and at this very second I can’t remember one thing that was in there.

Oh wait, I know – the TV shows I’m watching and what I’ve had for dinner this week.  LOL.  See what I mean?  Poor Diane.

I had the TV on the other night when Love Island came on – I hate those kinds of shows (i.e. Big Brother) so was quickly going to change the channel, but then I thought let’s just wait a minute…and next thing you know I’m glued.  It’s terrible.  But last night I turned it off because after Kyra chose Cashell and broke up Cashell and Caro well it broke my heart and then, then…Cashell was happy that Kyra picked him. I hate him. Diane says I get too invested. She’s not wrong. You should have seen me when Ross cheated on Demelza on Poldark. I changed the channel and watched the last episode of Chernobyl.  This is why I don’t blog now.  Who cares what I’m watching?  Although that said there are many texts to Stephanie that start with “what are you watching now?” And it comes up in conversation a lot with my kids – “what are you guys watching?”

Of course weather is a hot topic here in the Steel Building, especially today. It is absolutely fascinating to see the weather from the 60th floor.  It does not escape me that I am very very fortunate to have this vantage point – especially since I have been known as the weather girl from way back.  In Florida I loved seeing the sky – the cloud formations, the sunsets – but this view from the 60th floor never ever disappoints.  Well, okay maybe there are too many gray days but you know what I mean – it’s really something.  God really came through for me and this return-to-the-north transition by giving me this daily weather gift. Here’s some pictures just from today…

 

It was a really rainy day. Like flooding everywhere rain. One of these days I am expecting when the fog lifts from up here on 60 there’s going to be a huge spaceship visible – like in the movie Independence Day.  This is how my mind works. It could happen.

Have I talked about my new place? I’ve posted pictures haven’t I?  I do love it. There’s just so much about it that’s working for me.  Like it’s a house –I don’t have neighbors above or below me – although you can really hear the neighbors on either side.  The other night I thought someone was banging at my door and it was the neighbor doing something inside their house.  That house is also a rental and the landlord is in there doing something major – apparently taking down a wall?  Anyway, I also love my couch, my other new furniture – my old furniture – my deck – my neighbors.  Well, the deck… I had this possum living under it – oh right I’ve already talked about this in my last blog.  So, the landlord had a pest control company come in – caught two things in 5 days but she said she can’t keep the cage up indefinitely because it cost $100 each time they catch something.  Oh well.  But I think they caught my possum. I’ll find out on Saturday when I’m sitting out there.  If not my neighbor, Rich, said he’ll set some traps and the city will come for free and get them.  Crazy city living.

Well this isn’t the first blog that I’ve written during the day, but they don’t get published because as soon as it’s out of my head I think “well that’s stupid” – but if I publish quickly, right after it’s written I don’t bother to think about how stupid it is.  And I just send it out into the ethers.  Just another writing assignment/practice completed.  If I don’t think about this one too much maybe I’ll actually hit send.

The real assignment, if I want to get the writing gene reactivated is to figure out how to make “get up – go to work – come home – go to bed” sound more exciting. Maybe I’ll write about my commute observations and questions. Like the P1 bus. It’s always at the bus stop and it’s always full and there’s always a line. I just don’t understand. Whereever it is going they should put the subway out there.

Riveting isn’t it?

xoxox

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9

Settling

There’s something living under my deck.  It is unsettling.  You’d think I’d have given up that kind of thing when I left the woods of Virginia, but no they are all around me living in the city of Pittsburgh.  I have had a momma deer and a very baby fawn in my back yard (well back alley – someone else’s yard) and that fawn was so little it was drinking milk from it’s momma.  I mean it’s not every day you see something like that…in the city.   A week or so ago I was sitting on my deck, face in the sun, which doesn’t happen that often here, and well with eyes shut something jumped, slithered, left the deck.  I felt it.  But jumping up with glasses off and looking around I didn’t see it.  Today, another sunny beautiful beautiful day I thought I’d take my book out and read on my beautiful sunny deck.  But as it is, it is way too hot.  The sun beats down (I’m going to get that umbrella) so I just sat there soaking up some sun when a squirrel jumped onto the deck and I figured – ah ha!  That’s it…Little sucker…and he quickly jumped back off when I said “I see you!” and off he went.  So mystery of the creature solved, so I thought. And then when I went over to the right side to check on a flower pot I heard it again. A slither, a thump, a rustling of some kind right there on the side of the deck. And inside I came. I think that’s enough sun for today.

I’ve met two neighbors – three if you count the one who is moving out this weekend.  Rich who lives right next to me, and I mean right next to me, is very nice and helpful.  He cuts the hillside (I don’t really have a yard) although this week he needs to cut it..lol..and he says he traps raccoons and possums and things of that sort over in his yard.  But he’s away for the weekend or I’d be yelling RICH – when I heard the rustling.  I don’t know if I should be communing with the nature or getting rid of it.  I suppose it depends on what it is.

Another neighbor’s name is Lynn – she is just lovely – she lives a couple doors down and lives in the house her grandfather built.  Her flowers are gorgeous – perfectly landscaped yard AND she has a pool – an above ground pool – very clean.  We’d have to be REALLY good friends though for two of us to float and by the number of people I see on her porch always visiting I would guess I would be low man on the invite list.

However, there is a community pool not too far from me.  I’m gonna try it one of these weekends.  My nephew Kai (4 years old) wants to spend a day with me and he loves swimming so I think that’s when we’ll try it.

So far I love living up here on this hill.  And I mean hill.  I walk to the bus or incline every morning to start my morning commute – it is a very good walk – nice hills for exercise.  Some days I walk, incline, bus and the subway to get to my work.  All of that only takes ½ hour. Isn’t that something?  Other days I take a bus that comes to the end of my street and that bus takes me into the city and then I walk some more in the city to get to work.  I love walking and feeling healthy and all but lately I’ve been spending a lot of time in the chiropractor’s office.  I must have pulled something, I’m assuming during the move, so I’m limping and taking Advil in great quantity after these walks. But that’s going to be all fixed soon and then Sandy said we will walk all over this hill.  I mean it’s so great living up here.  There’s typically always a breeze (except this morning) and a really good breeze too, my street is very quiet as it’s not a thoroughfare – it’s a dead end ish – so nobody really comes on this street.  However, I understand all bets are off on the 4th of July.

My neighbor Rich says to me the other night “this is your first year isn’t it” – and I’m thinking what the eff is he talking about…well he’s talking about my first 4th of July on Mt. Washington.  So yes it is true, it is my first year.  And since then my other neighbor Lynn has also given me a heads up about the 4th.  The city of Pittsburgh does this fireworks display every 4th of July and it is fabulously fabulous.  But unless you live here or are crazy and want to fight the crowds you only see it on TV.  I think I came in one year with some child and although worth it – heaven forbid you have to pee OR get home.  It’s the getting home that’s the worst.  That’s what my neighbors were sharing with me. They said after the fireworks the traffic backs up for at least an hour as everyone attempts to go home.  That’s when our street gets busy because people don’t know that our street doesn’t go through or off the hill so it’ll be a busy night.  And I need to be sure not to move my car or I will never get my spot back.  Kinda reminds me of when I lived on Treasure Island for that summer and if I moved my car over certain weekends I wouldn’t get it back either.  I’ll just be prepared for my “first” year.  I was going to have my kids or my niece or invite anyone but since it is a work day for me I don’t want people in my house until midnight so maybe next year after I get the lay of the land.  I also found out that the best view – or where they set them off is at the end of my street – I mean I think it’s going to be pretty awesome.

I have much more unpacking to do – I was almost done when we decided to close out and clear out my mom’s storage so now I have her boxes of stuff that I have to figure out what to do with – I have NO room here for storage.  Which makes me think about what I’m learning are the most important things in life.  I think about that Florida adventure of mine – that 5 years away from home that also included the Virginia adventure.  Those memories seem like a book I read – someone else’s book – and I only remember pieces of it now.  And one of the life lessons that I have kept since that time is

  1. closet space is important.

It’s really not about having too much stuff – it’s about the necessity of closet space.  I know I can live without these scrapbooks and my mother’s record albums, but when I sit down and go through a box and smile at the memories…well it’s all worth it for that moment that I’m looking.  And how better to remember this life we’ve led – right?  I mean I’m already saying I hardly remember my Finally Florida days – which is not exactly true, but those memories will be going by the wayside sooner than later, especially at this age, and how happy will I be if I have photos to remind me?  Stuff to remind me.  I still keep stuff around that those Baker kids gave me over the years. And I think of them everytime I see one of my trinkets.  Or my glass wares from Katy’s house (at Treasure Island) – or this shell jar and coffee mug from Sandee.  It’s all stuff that I can live without – but I don’t want to. I want to remember. So, therefore, closets are important.

Thanks Mom
Thanks Mom

I keep saying I’m going to buy a house next year after I decide if I like living up here. After one month I’m thinking I’ll be staying and trying to find the best street that gives me the best vantage point for sunsets.  Meanwhile, both boys are talking Cali 2020 (moving to California) – it’s a joke right now – but in my life jokes can become reality.  I told them I only had a year’s lease so I can move at any time, but maybe I’ll just let them have their adventure and I’ll stay up here, on this mountain, and wait for them to come home again. IF they even go.

In the meantime, I’ll look at photo albums and get a shovel to protect myself against the creature living under my deck.

xoxox

Some house pics…still getting settled keep in mind!

Look what came out when I was taking pictures for the blog. MO FO!! I saw his face – I’m not sure what it is. I’m hoping ground hog but long pointy face with large whiskers suggests something else. AGGHHHH!!
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71

Moving along

I think I have a tapeworm.  I am always hungry.  And for the first time in many years my BMI is in the “good” range.  I hope that doesn’t mean I’m dying.  You know how they always ask on medical questionnaires if you “lost any weight lately”?  It’s the only time ever you don’t want to admit you’ve lost weight.  Even though it’s your number 1 goal in life, you don’t want any doctor’s office to ruin it for you.  But I do find myself wondering why I’m not gaining more with the amount I eat.  Perhaps all the steps (actual stairs) I walk every day is helping!  It’s over 60 stairs to get to the subway platform. I walk them every day!  Brenda thought I should walk 60 floors up to my desk but that’s just crazy talk.

So here I am.  Literally months since my last blog.  Other than always hungry, I’m always cold.  I mean it might be nice weather for an afternoon- I can think of one afternoon that I exclaimed to my son, when we were shopping after lunch (I know how cool is that? Lunch with my son..) anyway I said “this is really nice” – and I meant it.  There may have been another day here and there but I would say 95% of the time I’m freezing. Mostly I try and power through the chilled-to-my bones feeling and think of all that I’m grateful for.

I am grateful that I live close to my boys.  We have monthly FAM breakfast with each of us taking a turn hosting.  My first turn was last Sunday.  I took them out to a really good restaurant in the Strip District because I have yet to have my own home.  It was actually one of those nice warmish days.  Jimmy and I walked to the restaurant from his apartment and met Zach and Rachel who were not real happy because they had to park so far away.  It’s not easy to park in the Strip even on a Sunday.  Anyway, I was feeling excited in anticipation because as of June 1, I will be living in the city area in a place called Mt. Washington.  This is the view from the end of the street where I am moving: https://www.google.com/maps/place/425+Augusta+St,+Pittsburgh,+PA+15211/@40.4397307,-80.021942,3a,75y,101.39h,91.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNbV1aY4-vIVupoKfD57Law!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8834f6bb4047628d:0x51ac1699b4b706b5!8m2!3d40.4353554!4d-80.0239145

This view is 2 blocks from my new little home.  I will walk to this view (Grandview Avenue) every morning to catch the bus.  Maybe I’ll catch the bus. Or I’ll walk a little further up the street to catch the incline that goes down the hill and then either walk the rest of the way or transfer to another bus.  I believe my commute will be cut in half.  I am VERY excited about this move.  If you are not familiar with what an Incline is – it is a cable car that goes straight up the hill – see here: https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x8834f6af9e6ab935%3A0xe871d2bbc2032b83!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPnKw0sXC1zt8rnUJZMWgPIsrqcOg7h1aa7mpVR%3Dw240-h160-k-no!5sduquesne%20incline%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipPnKw0sXC1zt8rnUJZMWgPIsrqcOg7h1aa7mpVR&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQ25ehmMjhAhXtc98KHQKPAqwQoiowIHoECAsQBg

It is not just a tourist attraction, it is actually a form of commuter transportation. Kinda really really cool.

My beach pictures have been replaced with the daily pictures I take from my window at work.  They mostly look the same (grey)– I’m waiting for the green (trees, grass?) which is starting to pop out…slowly.

The views from my building are incredible. I look out all day.  I forget there are other views from other sides of the building so writing this blog is making me get up and walk to those other vantage points to show you all the views.  It’s not the beach view but it is just as beautiful in a very different way.

We have closed on Mom’s house in Virginia. That chapter (and house) is closed.  Well almost closed.  We still own two acres that we’re just going to hang onto for awhile.  It was sad but also happy as the neighbors all like the new owner who seems very happy with the house and garden!  That makes us all happy.  And although I’ll miss my relators I am ready to put that behind me.

My little Mt. Washington house where I am moving to is not in my hometown.  One day after I got off the bus (in Sewickley – home town – where I am staying with Diane) I decided I’m kinda over this place.  I’ve been moving on for so many years (5) that going back just didn’t feel right.  Mt. Washington location is close to both boys and close to work.  It feels more like where I should be.  I told the boys it’s time to look for “grandmas” home – and although I am not a grandma yet, I am hopeful that someday I will be and well those kids have to have a stable grandma’s home where I can collect more stuff for those grandbabies to have memories of.  I am not adverse to having TWO grandma homes – one in Mt. Washington and one in Florida 😊 but for now I’ll rent in Mt. Washington for a year and see if that’s where we think I should settle.  Could all change again tomorrow but that’s where my head is at today.

I am also grateful for my friend Diane who has been wonderful letting me camp out in her home and put up with me until I found the right place.  She said 6 months and she was right! Well actually it’ll be 4 months total.  That’s a long time to let someone take over your spare room.  I am happy to move on but I’ll miss having a friend as well.  I was talking to my mom the other day about even though it’s so nice I really miss my stuff in storage, and by my stuff I just mean like my calendar, or my mirror, or a certain face cream, and even Di’s bday card that I bought last year is in storage and I won’t be able to get to it until next year’s bday (her bday is May 5). Just little stuff that you miss.  I was saying to my mom “until you’ve experienced not having your own place you don’t really understand how it feels” and then we both started laughing as we looked around the room she lives out of now at my sisters.  She absolutely gets it. She went from a 3 story house filled with treasures to one room. ONE room. And even though she has everything she needs, as do I, there are things you don’t need that you just miss.  And in her case, even when you don’t see them you know things are there when you do need them.

Mom is doing good I suppose.  She’s not really a complainer. Well, that’s not totally true.  She complains about the government and politics but not about herself. My sister and niece (mostly my sister) bring her fresh hot coffee every morning, bring her breakfast, take her for walks, make her dinner and do her laundry.  Quite a different life she leads now.  She used to spend her days sitting on her porch in Virginia in the woods.  Now she sits in her room near the window.  She doesn’t like the cold and it’s much colder here than Virginia – but her room is really really warm so that’s good. She doesn’t want to move out.  She just wants to move on.  There’s been a couple days/weeks when I think “this is it” – and then she bounces back. I’m telling you the saying “blessed with a long life” is a misnomer. At least in some cases.  She just talked to her friend yesterday who is traveling the country (and maybe Europe) at 90 years old.  Her other best friend just got back from Paris with her granddaughter – she’s also 91.  Some people are blessed, but not all.

As for work – in addition to the view – I like it!  It’s a pace that is realistic (compared to that last job) – even while I’m filling in for Kathy who just left for a position closer to home, so in essence two positions again, but it’s STILL manageable.  And they are already making an offer to another person to fill Kathy’s job less than a month later.  I am very very grateful that I don’t go home questioning my sanity every day. My friend Robin, in Florida, told me that I just had to let it go…let the resentment I felt towards Stetson go – this was last October while I was still there.  It’s harder to let go than one might think.  There is quite a bit I miss there (as you can imagine) but that job is not one of them.

I am still having fashion dilemmas.  Five years ago people were still wearing panty hose – although I like the no panty hose rule and believe me I don’t even think they sell panty hose in Florida – but us “old” people I don’t know if we should be going without panty hose and without suntan legs.  It is almost appalling to me seeing all these young people going bare legged – white – and it’s freaking cold out there.  I can’t wrap my head around it and I’m not sure what to do.  I have dresses and skirts and I’m just stuck as to how to wear them.  Tights are a good option but I’m thinking no tights when it’s over 50 degrees. And now most days it’s over 50.  I spend an awful lot of time on my commute checking out what people are wearing.  Mostly pants in my age bracket.  Honestly, as much as I hate panty hose I think if I get the high end ones it’s better to wear those than none until I bronze up. Florida wear is much preferable to this. I’m not complaining, I’m just making an observation.

In summary, I have always hated the cold.  To the point where I cry.  There really are no words that describe how sad being cold makes me. BUT being back with the family, my boys, my mom, the babies, and having a bunch of friends and social obligations, well it gets me through. It does more than gets me through – it’s really great being back – and soon I’ll be walking outside with my Florida clothes on and I’ll be happy all over.  Then I’ll start dreaming about how I can have TWO homes.  I’ll put those snowbird dreams on my next vision board!

xoxoxox

Coming soon:  an internet tour of my new Mt. Washington digs.  Look for it mid June ish…once I get all my new furniture…again.  😊

 

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