A New Day is Dawning!

What a relief it is to know that tomorrow will be the beginning of a new Presidency, and hopefully we will see a much kinder and more noble tone in the United States.  President Biden can't do it alone, and I hope that Americans will join him in helping the U.S. to become again the good people we are so capable of being, and a government that will ensure liberty and justice for all.  It will be an uphill battle, especially with the economy, a pandemic, and other issues to be addressed.  But I have always believed that people can reach their highest selves when facing a tough challenge.  We will do it!  God bless America!

(I'm reminded of the saying:  "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!") 

And to our allies who are with us through good times and the not so good times, we love you, appreciate you, and we look forward to joining you in making the world a better place for everyone.

Flying my flag again!

I have it ready to set outside tomorrow, inauguration day.  I sure hope our country can set itself on a new, more firm and decent track.  To tell the truth, I am shocked and disappointed at the divisions we've experienced the last four years, although I can't say I'm surprised, considering who was running the country.  If we don't get decency back in our government at the highest levels, we are lost.  So the best of luck to you, Joe Biden - we are counting on you!

I wonder where has our winter rain been hiding, and when will it pay us a lengthy visit!  Today is a bright, sunshiny day, although a bit too breezy for me.  I cut short Rocky's walk this morning because of the winds.   A few days ago I looked at my checkbook register and noted that by this time a year ago, I was writing checks to have my grass cut.  It could probably stand a trim right now, but is nowhere near overgrown because of the lack of rain.  Actually, the entire back yard is composed of green weeds, but with my declining eyesight it all looks like green grass to me!

My granddaughter, Ara, made it safely home, driving halfway across the country after a lengthy visit over the holidays.  I miss her and her dog.  It was quite a commotion when all the dogs in the family got together and I don't think I could take it on a constant basis.  Since I rarely go out these days, the family usually gathered here at my house which fortunately has survived the rough and tumble of the dogs.

I'm starting to plan my garden although I haven't actually done anything yet.  I'll need Steve to turn over the dirt in the four large plots.  I'm going to plant squash and tomatoes again this year since they are about the only thing I will eat.  I actually don't eat many tomatoes but give them to Jeannie.  Steve is trying to talk me into planting a variety of vegetables, but I tell him that since I don't cook any more, it would be a waste of time and space for me.  Fortunately for me, the choice of good, delicious, frozen foods is available.  I have been an excellent cook all my life, and my 30 year old self wouldn't recognize the 80 year old!  Such is life! 

 After a lot of thought, I decided to continue writing a blog, although on a less frequent schedule this year.  Nothing much happens in my life so please bear with me.  And a big thanks to those of you who still read my ramblings!

Hope for the New Year

I think we are all hoping for a more normal new year.  I realize it will take the first few months to "normalize", but I'm trying to keep my hopes high, and also realistic!  To me, 2020 was nearly a total waste and I don't know how I could get through another one like it.

 Workmen will start replacing parts of the fence along one side of my back yard, so I will have to keep Rocky inside for a few days.  He loves to go visiting and is an escape artist to boot!  A large section has been replaced about a month ago, although they need to build up the soil level to meet the fence.  As it is, he has no problem finding escape routes or going under the new fence.

I know I'm not alone in dreaming of peace in our country and in the world, and a better political atmosphere.  The last four years has been the absolute worst in my memory, but the people have been so divided that it will be difficult to bring back any sense of normalcy.  We can only hope.

So here's to 2021 and an end to the divisions in our society. 

Happy New Year, 2021!

I hope everyone out there who sees this post will have a good year to come.  Thankfully, 2020 is over and done with, and I don't think many people will miss it.  I have been so housebound and starved for people to connect with, and hope it won't take much longer to get back on track to normal.

A couple of puppies have been added to my kids' families the last few months, Jeannie acquired a little scrappy dog - can't remember his breed(s) - and his name is Tito!

Ara is in town for the holiday season with her Australian Cattle Dog, Simone.  And Steve and his family added another dog to their family - a baby they are going to call Coco.  Mike's family in NY adopted an older dog that I believe is a Yorkshire Terrier, whose name is Olivia.  While it puts me in the mood to get a puppy, my Rocky is still technically a puppy  - I think I've heard that puppyhood for Black Labrador Retrievers can be anywhere from 2 to 5 years, and one of my nieces swears her lab "puppy" lived to age 13 and never did get to the adult stage!  I just hope if the mood strikes me to get another dog, that my kids will do a quick intervention!

I would say we are having our "cold" weather now, but I'd be laughed off the internet by some of you who live in colder climes.  It's cloudy and 55 degrees here right now, and I'm freezing.  I wear a warm hat, jacket, and gloves when I walk Rocky and I still get chilled.

After having my garden absolutely ruined last year by planting some seeds I received (unasked for) from China, I swore off gardening forever.  But I am now in the planning stages of what I will plant this year and how I will arrange the plants.  Tomatoes and squash will be the main veggies, although I will add a few more plants to see what grows and if it's worth the effort.  I will have 5 or 6 varieties of tomatoes, plus zucchini ad yellow squash.  Last year I grew all the plants from seed and it was so much fun to watch them sprout and grow.  This year I'm thinking of buying established plants, but haven't yet decided for sure.  At my age I should be trying to make life easier for myself!  

I wish you all the best of years ahead, and hope if you have found my blog post, you will accept my belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

 

Closing in on Christmas!

I don't even know the date today, but I think there are about two more weeks until Christmas Eve.  I haven't bought one gift, but need to get busy and write checks for my grandchildren!  They would probably rather buy something they want anyway.  

This just doesn't seem like Christmas or anything special in any way.  Covid has messed up every-thing in our lives, and could well have been prevented, or at least kept to a minimum of damage.  Someone should be held accountable and charged with refusing to stop the spread of it early on.  To be truthful, I don't think he particularly wanted to stop it.

I'm still watching the videos of WW-II photographs.  The only problem is that while a fake voice is reading the description of the picture on the screen, there is music in the background that is so annoying it's hard to describe.  It is happy, jolly marching music, and the same track runs over and over.  It is a bit incongruous hearing this lively music while the photos show deceased and injured war victims and scenes of war.  There are very few happy, jolly, or lively photos in the thousands I've seen so far, but they are very beautiful and touching in their own way.  If I turn off the sound, then I have to read the captions which are in very small print, so I'd rather hear the narration and try to tolerate the music.

We had a bit of rain today - not enough to make much difference, although it's a harbinger of the rains we hope will come soon.

I've had numerous tests and scans and everything seems to look ok.  But why do I still have "spells" that only last a few seconds, but I know something isn't right.  I just hope it isn't dangerous, lol.  A couple of weeks ago I was walking a mile every day on my treadmill, but have given up on it.  I just feel so "down", and probably will feel that way until it's deemed ok to go shopping!  A slow trip through Costco or Target would probably do wonders for my mood.  But they are saying the virus will be active for the next few months, and I hope I can last!

Well folks, I would sure like to skip Christmas this year, but I have to give something to the kids.  Other than that, I am not leaving my house to go anywhere on Christmas.  It certainly is not "Merry" this year and I'm just too old to fake it anymore.   I hope all of you have a better attitude than I do, lol.

History

 I rarely watch TV, but I do watch a lot of Youtube.  As anyone would know from youtube, if you watch a program they will steer you to more of the same, and in my case, I've been viewing a lot of historical videos about WW-II.  This morning I watched a video about a POW camp in Louisiana which housed German prisoners, and it looks like those prisoners were living at the Ritz for the most part!  They must have had a bit of a let-down when they were returned to their own bombed-out country.  Most of the programs I've seen have been sad and disheartening.  I don't know why any country would want to enter into war with another, or why other countries would take sides and join them.

I am always amazed that, born in November of 1940, I knew absolutely nothing about the war.  Of course there was no tv in those days, but most people had a radio and gathered around it for the evening news.  My parents must have put us kids to bed early or did something to keep the war news away from us.  I feel so stupid when I hear friends my age or a bit older, remembering being taken by their moms downtown for the big victory gathering in the main square ( in Cincinnati, it was Fountain Square).

I am dreading the arrival of Thursday as I am scheduled for yet another medical scan.  This one is the last one I'm going to endure, and I don't care what anyone tells me I should do.  It's no way to live, marking your days by medical tests you have scheduled.  And there is ALWAYS another test they can do so I have no doubt this one will indicate something they should take a further look at.  I will say a resounding "NO!"   Actually I am feeling ok these days, although I don't have much initiative to do anything.  I think that is more related to the virus and being isolated, rather than my health.

I guess we are on the countdown until Christmas, and I have not bought a thing for anyone yet!  I hope you are all doing better than I am in that regard.  

Have a good and safe week.

Turning over a new leaf!

It's always great to get a new lease on life, and I think I'm having one now.  I had a video phone visit with my cardiologist yesterday, and she thinks I'm good for at least another 10 years - maybe longer.  There are still a lot of things wrong with my life - being alone so much of the time without a way to get out and do things on my own, is probably the worst.  My kids try to be helpful and my daughter lives close, but I want the freedom to come and go, and do what I choose to do.  You hear a lot of talk about "life lessons" we all have to learn, but personally, I think it is a bunch of crap.  I learned so much throughout my life, but I guess I couldn't have learned about what it's like to be old.  You can have an elderly parent or other relatives, but you can't tell what it's really like until you get there!

So I have been feeling a bit better each day, and I'm walking a mile on my treadmill every day at 3 mph.  Some might think this is too little, or too slow, but knowing myself, if I try to do too much I will burn out.  So I'm happy with my mile a day routine.  I also found some hand weights in a drawer - they aren't heavy ones; I have four at 2# and two at 1# each.  I'm looking to pick out four of the six weights, and with half in each hand, I should be good to go!  I can always buy a heavier set, but I'm better off being consistent than being gung ho, which easily wears off.

So I have so much to do, I almost don't know where to begin.  Since I'm starting to feel better, and maybe even a little more hopeful, I'll just take it a day at a time.

How is the pandemic and isolation affecting all of you?  I guess it's worse in some areas than in others, and I know there are many people who don't pay attention to it.  At my age, I'm taking no chances!  But sometimes it is absolute hell to be so alone.  I find myself wondering what it would have been like if I had stayed in the mobile home park.  I'd never want to go back, but do miss seeing and talking to people in the neighborhood.  I meet a few people on my daily walks with Rocky, and we shout back and forth with each other from across the street, but it's not like I know any of them.

As the old saying goes, "Getting old ain't for sissies!".