Daily Challenge for May Wrap Up

 Well, as the month of May comes to an end, my challenge of putting things away once I'm finished with them has proven quite successful for me.  And I foresee myself continuing this method. When I come home from work, I don't feel overwhelmed looking at piles of stuff.  And when I get up in the morning, I am not looking at dirty dishes piled everywhere.  It is a lot more pleasant to start my day that way then ignoring the dishes, knowing I'll have to do them eventually.  That just fills me with desire to not do it LOL  And now I'm not worrying about it.  That's a good feeling.

I am also finding myself getting rid of things that I don't need.  If I don't have a logical place for something in the house, chances are I do not need it.  And I'm discovering some things that are simply taking up space and nothing else.  Now, I'm not referring to my antiques and collectibles...just stuff.  And it's been good for me to make room for things and know that's where they will need to be from now on.  Of course, their location may change in the future but for now it has a home!  

Last night, I was in bed reading some magazines.  I finished two of them.  I knew that I was going to recycle them eventually. I started to set them down beside the bed, telling myself that I would simply put them in the bin in the morning.  And then I thought to myself, no don't do that.  Get up and do it now.  And I did.  Otherwise, they may have sat on the bedroom floor for days (or weeks).  It felt good to go ahead and take care of it right then. 

Now, it's time to start thinking about a challenge for June.  Hmmmmmm!

Starting to look ahead after graduation next year

 Someone asked me the other day what I wanted to do after I graduate with my master's degree.  And to be honest, I do not know.  I really don't.  The opportunities for people who work with the elderly are growing rapidly because that section of our society is growing rapidly.  The key for me is going to be finding something that I really enjoy and going down that path.  I have a little over a year before I graduate so it is time to start figuring all of this out.

One of the things that I need to deal with first is the fear of having the same thing happen to me as when I got my BSW.  NOTHING!!!  I was not able to do anything with that degree.  It now sits in the bottom of a box out in the garage.  The only thing it got me was debt LOL I am so afraid that this degree will be the same kind of experience for me that it gets hard for me to look ahead sometimes. So, I really am going to have to deal with my feelings about my undergraduate degree and then let that go. I think that is the only way I can move forward.

I am definitely going to have to start doing some research.  Research into different kinds of careers open to gerontologists.  I already know that I love senior living, so that is always an option.  But there are so many more varied jobs out there that I have no idea about.  I think that out there somewhere is the perfect fit for me.  It is simply a matter of finding it.  I can do that. I know I can.  I just need to put forth the effort.  While there is always a chance that the right opportunity will present itself to me, there is always a chance that it won't.  I need to be control of my own career.  That may be the only path I have to follow and if I do not step up to the challenge, this degree will go in the box with the other one.  It's an exciting challenge for me and I am looking forward to it.

That is all. 

Black Coffee - Julie London

 I listened to one of Julie London's albums the other evening.  She has such a wonderful voice.  This was one of the songs on the album and I love it.  Appropriate for how I drink my coffee!  Enjoy!

My Cyber World

 

This week I have made some changes to my approach to the cyber world.  One is that I have significantly decreased my online presence through various social media platforms.  In other words, I have deactivated most of my social media accounts.  I've done this because, basically, they do not bring me pleasure anymore.  While they filled a very large void during the pandemic and they served their purpose well, I have found them to be more stressful than pleasurable. When I was using them, I kept falling into the pattern of making other people happy.  The profiles no longer became about me specifically but about how I could use that to please others.  

Now, you know me, there is nothing wrong with pleasing others.  But these profiles were created at a time when I was trying to please others at the expense of myself.  I am not going to do that anymore.  I have spent most of my adult life gradually losing myself because of that lifestyle pattern and it is unhealthy. I am immensely enjoying my rediscovery right now and those profiles no longer fit in with the person I am building.  It's not a win/lose type of situation and I don't feel as if I've failed because those profiles no longer serve a productive service in my life.  They were there when I needed them and now, I don't feel like I do need them. It also goes back to me trying to have more "real" in my life and less "fantasy". And there is nothing wrong with fantasy, it's simply not what I need in my life right now.  

And making that decision has felt good.  While it is an adjustment because I have had to change how I spend some of my free time, it has been worth it.  I have been better at communicating with people this week outside of work.  I have actually made some concrete plans for the summer as far as getting together with people.  That is what I need. I may choose to go back to those social media sites and begin again, but only if I know for absolute sure that I can balance that with a real time existence.  I don't know if that's possible for me, but for the time being I am keeping that door cracked. 

Another thing that I have been working on this week is being happy for others.  While this may seem like something that is obviously easy to do, in the cyber world it can be very difficult.  Seeing constant posts about people's vacations, going out to dinner, being in love, celebrating anniversaries, etc., can be emotionally overwhelming. I'm at a point in my life where I'm single and can't afford to do anything really.  I am NOT complaining, just stating the facts. Especially on a holiday weekend, seeing everyone's posts about their Memorial Day plans and such, one week ago would have really depressed me.  But I am choosing to be happy for people that they have things to do.  I was invited to a pool party this weekend and besides having to work some this weekend, I simply couldn't afford to go.  I have to think about the money spent on gas to get there (it was a few hours away btw) and it simply is not feasible for me to attend. So, instead of getting upset over the reasons I cannot go, I am choosing to be happy for those that do get to attend.  I will be there one day, it's just not in the cards right now.  And that is OK!

Anyway, I am having a good time working on real life right now. Even if it means sitting at home and listening to music or watching a movie, it makes me feel better than being tied down to internet profiles that stress me out.  I am choosing myself over other things right now and that is good.  At least it is for me.

That is all. 

Quote of the week

 This week I have started to make some small changes in some areas of life.  Changes that involve letting go of things that once defined me and making room for the person that I want to be and know I am.  It's made a big difference even in this short amount of time.  I'm glad of that. 

Affording tickets to the theatre

 Now that I am starting to attend more theatre, I really need to stop and think about how I can afford it.  I have been lucky enough to be the recipient of tickets to the theatre as gifts and as invitations from friends.  It's always been a great experience and I have seen some wonderful shows over the last year.  I want to keep that up but to be honest, going to the theatre can be expensive.  So, I want to look for some affordable ways to see shows. 

I think my first thing is going to be to get a UNCG student ID.  Prices for students are usually greatly reduced.  Especially when it comes to college productions.  And UNCG has a pretty interesting line up for their next season.  It would be great to get tickets for $5 instead of $25. And I could use that ID other places where student prices are offered.  So, that's a must!

Many community theatres in the area and other smaller professional companies will sometimes offer a "pay what you can" night.  That is something that I should take advantage of.  In the long run, it would be a cheaper way to see good, fun theatre. I don't know how fast tickets for those shows get taken or if it's a first come, first serve type of situation but it is something I need to explore more. 

I have seen two shows at the Tanger Center over the past year.  Both times, the tickets were a courtesy of others so thank you for that!  The first show I saw we were on the 6th row.  The second show I saw we were in the top balcony. Both were amazing seats really.  From the balcony, I could see the entire stage in a way I couldn't down front.  There are definite advantages to both.  But I have no doubt that the balcony seats were cheaper than the 6th row. So, if there is something that I really want to see, I need to look at that section of seats now that I know they are definitely worth their price.

So now, I need to start looking ahead at what is being offered in theatres in the Triad in the next few months and begin choosing what I would like to see.  Now that theatre is becoming a regular part of my life again, I don't want to miss out on any stellar performances!!

That is all. 

Checking my school email

 Right now, I don't check my school email as often as I should.  Part of that is because I just needed a break from school, which I have had, and it's been nice.  Another reason is simply because there is little activity of importance going on in my school email, so I simply am not there a lot right now.  A few weeks ago, I did have to go back and check because I needed to update my study plan and get my advising code, both of which I do through email. 

Well, the other day I logged on and I'm so thankful I did.  There was an email with the subject "Congratulations! You've been awarded..." Of course, I was intrigued. I open up the email and, lo and behold, I have been awarded a scholarship.  Yay!! It is the same scholarship that I received last year. It is not for the same amount that I received last year but, to be honest, my expenses will not be as much as I only have two classes left.  But this will still cover almost half of my costs and that is such a relief.

The scholarship is for people who work in senior living.  The family of a woman who suffered from dementia and lived in a care community in Greensboro, not Heritage Greens but Well Spring, set up the scholarship in her honor for people who work in care communities.  I am thrilled and honored to receive this scholarship again.  It will help more than they know.  And I wrote them a nice note thanking them for this assistance with my education.

So, I will be checking my school email a little more often now on my break from school.  Who knows what is in there that I will benefit from!

That is all. 

She Thinks His Name Was John

 The other day I was listening to a cd set of Reba McEntire.  It is 50 songs on 3 cds and it's a wonderful collection of songs.  Her material is so versatile and entertaining.  This particular song is very powerful and has a strong message to it.  While I don't normally post songs that are "depressing", this one got stuck in my head.  It really is a beautiful song and something we should all take to heart. 

Daily Challenge Update

 Here I am in week 3 of my daily challenge for May:  don't put it down, put it away.  Let me tell you, it's made quite a difference.  I love coming home from work and not seeing random stuff all around the house.  I love waking up in the morning to a clean(ish) kitchen.  The counter tops are relatively clear, and the dishes are all washed. I am definitely a creature of habit, and this challenge is doing a good job of changing some of my habits. Each night after dinner, I make sure that I clean up after myself thoroughly.  All of the food is put away and I make sure the dishes are put in the dishwasher. Or, if the dishwasher is full, I will just handwash them.  BTW, sometimes I let my dishes stay in the dishwasher for a while once they are done unless I really need something.  I don't often use the special drying cycle on the dishwasher, so this lets them have longer to air dry and that is helpful. It' just nice to be developing better housekeeping habits like this.  In the end, it saves me time and frustration from cleaning and sorting massive amounts of stuff that hasn't been put away.  So, I plan on keeping this up definitely.  It's amazing how something so seemingly small can have a good impact on my life. 

That is all. 

Changing some spending ways

 One of the things I am learning as a single adult on my own now is, truly, the value of the dollar and how my spending habits are beginning to change.  Part of that is out of necessity.  I pay all of my own bills now and so far, (knock on wood) I have managed to pay them on time. There is a great sense of pride knowing that I can take care of myself when I need to and still have some money left over for other essentials like gas and groceries.  I mentioned the other day on Facebook that I have developed a budget for myself and that I am determined to stick with it. I really believe that I can do it. It may take a few months to be able to stay on track simply because of keeping watch on what I spend on groceries and such and creating a standard amount to base my budget off of.  But, I will get there.

Another thing, though, that I am really starting to understand now is the importance of patience when it comes to spending money. Yes, I treat myself to things now and then.  But I pay for them with my money and not my credit.  I save my credit now for crisis situations and not on unnecessary items of pleasure. But what I am learning, or relearning actually, is that it is much more satisfying to buy something when I can afford it. When I have saved up and can splurge some on something I want.  I say relearn because mostly in my childhood we had to save up for things if we wanted them.  There was no instant gratification shopping in those days.  We saved up for things we wanted.  And there was no greater feeling than going into a store, getting exactly what I wanted and putting my own money down on the counter to pay for it.  Money I'd earned doing chores or mowing lawns. The purchase was so much sweeter that way.  

Now I understand that.  There are so many things that I would like to have but do not exactly need.  So now I can spend my money wiser and build up my savings so that when something comes along that I am really interested in, I can either already afford it or have a goal set to get it. And if it is meant to be, then the item will still be available once I've saved.  Dad was always of the philosophy that if you don't have the money for it, you don't need it.  Mom was more of if she wanted it, she'd get it....most times.  Most of my adult life spending has been patterned after Mom but I am working my way over to Dad's ideals.  I get it now.  I wish I had really understood it earlier in my life but that is all water under the bridge now. 

I will go someplace like Ebay now and find something I like and I will keep track of my money. If it's still there once I've saved enough, I will get it.  Or I will go out shopping with a specific budget and find something fun that way.  Either way, it will be my own money and my own treasure.  It may take a long time to save up but the pay off will be so much more worth it.

That is all.

Getting a writing idea

 Yesterday I was chatting with some friends, and I brought up an idea that I had for a theater project. There's an actress that I think would be perfect to play a very specific role.  The role would be an actual person from history.  She's a person who played an important role in race relations in our history.  And while, yes, I'm being vague here about the details, the actress would be the perfect person to play this role.  She even resembles the figure, so it's an ideal match.

I don't know of any play or film or television show that has dealt with this subject. I mean, yes, I have seen it in documentary form.  That's how I learned of the story.  But I mean a scripted telling of this episode in our history. One of my friends suggested that I write it myself.  Hmmmmm.  I've never written a play. I've never written any kind of dialogue like that before.  It definitely would be a challenge. I'm not sure where I would even begin with that. How does one start a project like that?

Now, I don't know if I will work on this or not, but it has certainly got my creative juices stirring. Maybe I will work on it in a short story form first.  That could help.  I don't know.  But, either way, it's nice to have something to get me motivated to do some writing.  That is all. 

Social Anxiety

 Social anxiety is something that I deal with every day. As much as I want to be more active and social, sometimes the thought of going out to some place where I don't know many people is crippling.  Once I get out of the house and get to a destination, I'm usually fine.  It's the anticipation of it that stinks. Often, I don't go anywhere at all just so I don't have to deal with those kinds of feelings.  I really don't know where this comes from.  It probably dates back to my childhood but who knows. Sometimes I really do not want to explore the origins of it but then there are other times when I want to pinpoint the exact moment it began.  Ah, well.

As much as I want to meet new people, the fear of rejection really does prevent that most times.  As you know, I love to cook.  I would love to invite new people over to share a meal with, but I get so afraid of no one wanting to show up that I never do.  And then I figure out that I wouldn't be entertaining enough to sustain a conversation, etc. It just snowballs and so I don't do it.  I know in my heart that this won't last, but these kinds of feelings do creep up every now and then.  I guess that I'm just going to have to face my fears and put myself out there.  I need to take up some space in this journey we call life. And the best way not to do it alone is to put myself in situations where I can build a tribe.  Then, maybe, these feelings of inadequacy will be alleviated. 

That is all. 

Missing Music Stores

 You all know that I love music.  All kinds of music.  I mostly listen to things that were recorded decades ago, shocking I know, but I do enjoy some contemporary music as well.  To me, good music is good music, and a good artist is timeless.  I almost always have music playing in the background when I'm at home whether it be a record or a cd or the radio.  I like having it a part of my daily life.

Anyway, the other night I sat in bed and put a cd in my cd walkman.  Yes, I have one of those thanks to a Christmas gift from Michael and I still use it.  I was listening to Barbra Streisand's Just For the Record Highlights cd.  It has some wonderful tracks on it and maybe one day I'll find the full album at a good price.  I just stayed in bed and listened to the cd without any distractions.  It's been a long time since I have done that.

It got me thinking about music stores and how I miss them.  I'm not even sure if there are any around anymore because everything is online these days. Now, I'm not talking about Ed McKay's where I can find plenty of used cds and records.  I mean an actual new music store.  Growing up, there was one in the Monroe Mall.  I can't remember than name of it to save my life, but I spent many hours in there looking through all of the music.  And you didn't even have to buy anything.  It really was a good way to kill time at the mall. 

It also made me think of how I miss the old cd packaging.  Yes, it was really completely useless and a waste of cardboard, but I always found it much easier to sort through the cds when they were in those long boxes.  They were a bitch to get into though LOL Sometimes the artwork on the cover box was totally different than the album covers and that was fun. I remember going to Cocoanuts in Raleigh to buy cds when we would visit the city.  I always enjoyed that.

While I am grateful for the used music stores in my area and I do frequent them as much as I can, I miss going to the new music stores. It's a piece of the past that kids today will never have the privilege of experiencing.  And that makes me sorry for them. While there is a convenience to streaming music, it's just not the same as waiting for an artist's new album to come out and scrambling to get to the store to buy it before it was sold out.  Ah, good times. 

My next class

 I only have two classes left to take for my degree.  One will be this coming fall and the other one will be next summer.  The one next summer will be my capstone project.  I just did not have it in me to get everything together that I needed to get it done this summer so it will be next year.  And I am completely ok with that.  The capstone project is really the only hands-on experience that I will get in this degree program, and I do not want to waste that opportunity.  

So, I am looking at taking my other class this fall.  The one that I am interested in is a class on Elder Law.  I actually started the class my first semester, but it was too much for me. The class itself was not too much but it was my first semester in school, and I was getting used to the online class format.  I was also taking a required course in theory.  That was a very tough class, and it was just too much for my brain to handle at the time. I made the decision to drop the elder law course in hopes that I would be able to take it again.  And now, the opportunity has presented itself and I look forward to it!

I have always been interested in estate law, which is part of elder law. But I know there is so much more to it than that and I am excited to learn. In senior living, we do keep a handful of legal documents on file for our residents in independent living.  I know what they are for, but I am hoping this class will better teach me as to how exactly they are used.  I know some things but here's a lot more out there for me to learn.  It's been a while since I have been excited about a class, so this is going to be great for me!  And then only one thing left.  Yippee!!!!  I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Let's just hope I get into the class before it fills up LOL

Checking another item off of my antiques bucket list

 

Several years ago, I wrote a blog entry listing 10 antiques I wanted to own someday.  With the purchase of my soup tureen, I can now check one more item off of my list.  Only seven items left to go LOL I just fell in love with this piece.  I saw it the weekend before last when Travis and I went to Twin Deer Antiques Mall in High Point.  I kept coming back to it and then ultimately decided not to buy it.  I was checking the piece out and felt what I thought was a chip in the lid.  So, I left it behind. 

But all week I could not get it out of my head.  I kept thinking about it.  I looked it up on Ebay when I just searched for "vintage yellow soup tureen".  This actually popped up along with a lot of other tureens.  When I saw it was California pottery, I added that to my search as well.  The ones just like this that showed in the results were often incomplete.  Usually, it was the underplate that was missing.  I did find it in several different colors:  white, green, orange, teal.  I loved the shape of it.  Interestingly, another style of tureen that came up in the results was the one that Grandmother had that started my desire to have one.  So that was an unexpected connection for me. Several years ago, I would have bought the one that was just like hers in order to recreate that memory of hers sitting on the dining room table.  But my tastes have evolved some and I decided that having a tureen was enough of a similarity and I should go with what I loved.  Hence, this beautiful yellow soup tureen.

So, now it's time to start searching for the next item to check off of my antiques bucket list.  I'm interested to see what presents itself to me at the right time...just like the tureen did.

That is all. 

Working Outside

 It takes a lot to run a household by oneself.  It takes a lot of energy and a lot of planning.  I will admit that I have not quite gotten there yet LOL.  And I say that because one of the areas that I realized this weekend I am lacking in is outside the house.  I'm pretty good at doing the interior chores and keeping up with domestic duties.  Even then there are areas inside I need to do better with.  But, I rarely do anything out in the yard or on the patio or on the porch.

I just don't think about it that often.  Michael comes and mows the grass every other week or so.  I know he loves to work outside, so he offered, and I am more than happy to let him do it. But I really need to get out and do some yard work.  There are areas that need to be cleaned up that are looking pretty bad.  And I don't want my house to look like that.  It's a matter of planning on my end.  My patio is not a very usable space right now and I'd like to be able to sit out here sometime and enjoy it.

When you have to do it all by yourself, it's very easy to get behind.  Hell, I'm behind without even really starting outside yet.  I have a lot of catching up to do.  Mainly, I want to do it for myself and show myself that I have the abilities to take care of things as needed.  I have proved it in other areas of my life and now it's time to get outdoors and prove it to myself.

We shall see. 

Mother's Day

 

Today is Mother's Day.  It's the official day each year that we celebrate the wonderful women who are our mothers. Not that we don't celebrate them all year long, but it is nice to have a day of worldwide recognition. It is a day to remember not only the women who gave us life, but all of the other mother figures we have had in our lives.  I have been blessed to have many in my life.  I have had many wonderful people who have taken on a maternal role with me at one time or another.  While no one will ever replace Mary B. in my heart, it's been a comfort to have the support and love of so many other women in my life.

I am part of a very special group of people.  We all had or have the best mom in the world.  The older I become the more I realize how important and unique this is.  Lots of people out there were not fortunate to have the greatest mom and those of us who experienced the unconditional love of a mother are truly blessed.  I often talk about growing up on Brookgreen Drive and what a group of Mother's we had as kids.  Mary B., Kay Goodson, Ann Arnold, Kay Parker, Judy Davis, Gail Derrick. This was an extraordinary group of women that set amazing examples for all of us.  We may not have known it at the time, but we can look back and see the wisdom in their hearts. Throughout my life there have been many other amazing mothers that I have encountered, too many to name.  And now many of my friends are mothers.  That just blows my mind.  But I watch them in their journeys of motherhood and see the love and care they exude, and I know how comforting that is to all that receive it. 

Today is the 29th Mother's Day I have spent without Mom. While that number seems large, it feels just like yesterday that she was here with us.  And I am truly thankful for the 20 Mother's Days I did get to spend with her.  While I would give anything for one more day, I would not trade the ones I had with her for anything in the world.  I have had no truer inspiration in my life, and I carry her in my heart every day. 

Happy Mother's Day to all!

One Drawer at a Time - Working on my bathroom shelves

 

Today I have been working on and off in my bathroom going through the shelves and cabinets.  It really is amazing how much stuff accumulates in there.  Things that I buy thinking I will need it or even use it and it normally ends up sitting there by itself until its expiration date.  I feel bad that not only have I wasted money on these things, but I wasted something that someone else might have actually used or needed.  So far I have filled up about half of the kitchen trash can with outdated things from my bathroom.

On the plus side, the shelves are beginning to look better, and I now have room to be better at organizing them.  They actually were not that badly organized before but now there is more room to really see what's there LOL Another thing that this streamlining of the bathroom is going to help me with is not wasting more money on products.  I know we all say that kind of thing and never really do it.  I don't know if I will really do it or not but at least I have said it LOL  But I will hopefully really consider what I need before putting it in my cart. 

Working my way through the house one drawer at a time has been a great experience for me.  And while other people will not be able to look and see the changes, I definitely know that they are there and it makes me feel a lot better!  

Daily Challenge Update

 Even though it has only been a few days since I established my challenge for May, I can already tell a difference in the way the house looks day to day and the way I feel about that.  Like I mentioned in my initial post, a clean looking kitchen in the morning is a beautiful thing.  Not that it's spotless by any means, but it is definitely an improvement. Now each night after dinner I make sure that the dirty dishes are either in the dishwasher or washed by hand. Sometimes I have let a few dishes soak overnight in the sink because they really need it and that's fine by me. It's just nice to get up and make my coffee without looking at all of that clutter spread across the counters!

I have also started putting away my work things when I come each day from work. I used to just fling everything on the dining room table and leave it there til the next morning.  While it was not really in the way, it made the table look pretty messy.  And you all know how much I love how my dining room table looks!  So, that has been a plus.  And it's good for me, when I get home, to make sure I put my work stuff away before doing anything else once I'm home.  It's a good routine for me. So, so far so good on the challenge front.  Let's hope I can keep it up!  That is all. 

They Don't Let You in the Opera - Kelli O'Hara

 I was listening to Kelli O'Hara's cd "Always" the other day.  It's a wonderful cd full of beautiful tracks that show off her voice.  There are many Broadway standards like "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "The Party's Over" and then there was this.  "They Don't Let You in the Opera" is a hoot and a half and it really shows off both Ms. O'Hara's vocal abilities and her comic timing.  Enjoy!

I spend too much time on the internet

 

I spend too much time on the internet.  While I do enjoy it, it is definitely something that I need to cut down on.  I do not feel badly about the amount of time I am on there, but I want to go in a different direction with my life right now.  When class was in session, going online was my social interaction.  And it filled a gap that I needed at the moment.  Now that class is over, I need to change the vehicle of my social interactions into something real. I am not saying that social interaction online is a bad thing by any means, it is simply that for a time it was my only form of social interaction and I want something more concrete in life.

It is not as if I am going to start going out every night.  I do not have the time, money or energy for that anymore.  But I would like to make some meaningful relationships appear in my life and give me something to do and look forward to.  I can use the social interactions that I have developed online and make them into something real.  I just do not want to rely solely on the internet for my socialization. Last night, as I was chatting online with people, I realized that I was not enjoying myself.  I did not get depressed about it, but I did get disillusioned over it.  I did not like how that felt. It definitely could have gotten me depressed but I did bring myself out of that before it started really.  Whew.

While I have no clear plan on how to make this kind of socializing happen, it is time for me to start working on a plan.  Today I will begin to cut back on my internet time.  Even then, I will have some more time for things that I enjoy even if it is by myself.  Who knows how this will go.  But it's a start anyhow! That is all. 

Going outside to play

 With the return of spring comes the return of memories. The other day when I got home from work, I got out of my car and the warm breeze hit me like a ton of bricks.  I do not mean hot air, but that warm spring breeze that we've been waiting for all winter.  The one that is perfumed with honeysuckle. The one that wanted to make us go inside as fast as we could and change out of our school clothes and get back outside to play.  I often wonder, with so many children wrapped up in their devices, do they even think about going outside?  Is there a difference in school clothes and play clothes anymore?  Oh, what they are missing!

I remember the fun it was to play after school.  We would come home, grab a snack and get together to do something.  Riding a bike, playing a game, roller skating. It was just important to get together and not think about the homework that we had to do.  Yes, there were times when I stayed in to watch tv.  We all did.  But it's those times of excitement of going down to explore the creek together or playing tennis in the Griffin's private tennis court that sat behind the Derrick's house. We would often take rocks and draw art in the street.  By the way, we lived on a dead-end street so that was pretty safe for us. 

And we played until dinner.  That was the cue. Listening for our names to be called to come home for supper.  Play time was over.  And if we didn't respond, there was always the dreaded full name call using our middle names that meant we were late and would get in trouble if we did not get home right away. That always did the trick.  And another day of play came to an end.  

I miss the excitement of coming home and going outside to play.  I miss having that little group of constant people to do things with.  It's one of the parts of childhood I miss the most.  Yes, we were kids and definitely acted like kids.  We weren't always nice to each other, but it always passed and was forgotten.  And we had each other's backs when times were tough.  It was a good place to grow up and I am thankful for it. Maybe today when I get home from work, I will change my clothes and go outside and play.  You never know!

Daily Challenge for May

 Now that the semester is over, I can go back to focusing on some things to work on around here.  As I have talked about before, I am wanting to incorporate some different things into my everyday life.  I have been moderately successful at this so far but I know that I can do better.  So, it's time to set myself another challenge for May.

This one is based on a phrase I have talked about before: don't put it down, put it away.  I am notorious, as I believe we all are, in just setting something down and thinking that I'll get to it later. Guess what?  It really doesn't work that way LOL  I end up with piles of stuff all over the house.  Then I get overwhelmed when I try to do something about it because it's just too much. Nothing gets accomplished that way. 

I need to take a moment before I just set something down on a random surface.  I need to think about where it actually needs to go. If I do it now, that will save time later.  I won't feel so stuck in piles everywhere. I've already started this in the kitchen with dirty dishes and I can tell a difference. It's so nice to wake up and go to make my coffee in a kitchen that is relatively clean because I took the time to put things away.  I want that feeling all over the house!

I can do this!  Now, time to go find something and put it away.  That is all. 

I did learn stuff after all

 In the end, I did learn something from my "Health and Aging" class.  Yes, it was very frustrating.  I will go several years now before I watch Up again any time soon.  But the actual learning materials of the class were very good.  I just hated the format.  It grew tiresome and I was honestly writing the same paper every week.  Oh well. When we did our strategic plan for Carl, our group project, you know that was frustrating as well.  Sometimes group projects can be like that, but we did work through it and got an A on it, so I will let that go. The good part about the project, even though I had never done an assessment or strategic plan before, is that I knew what I was talking about.  The material we had been covering was there in my brain and I was able to call on it and use when I needed to.  There's something to be said for that. Here's the graphic I created for our plan:

Now, it's time to relax for a while and look to the future, both my future classes and my actual future.  I can do that! 

Desserts I want to make

The other day at work while I was on my lunch break, I watched a Youtube video on vintage desserts that you rarely see anymore.  Several of them really caught my interest and I started a list.  Go figure, another list LOL But that got me to thinking about desserts that are on my cooking bucket list. Some of these are very basic desserts that are still popular today, I just have never made them.  Some are inspired by recipes in cookbooks I have.  Of course, there are many more out there but here are 10 of them:

 1. Chiffon Cake

Chiffon cake is a light cake that is made with vegetable oil instead of traditional butter or other heavy fats

2. Harvey Wallbanger Cake

A delightful yellow cake flavored with oranges and Galliano Liquer

3. Grasshopper Pie

A creamy no-bake pie mixing chocolate, mint and whipping cream

4. German Chocolate Cake

A layered chocolate cake filled and topped with coconut-pecan frosting

5. Lady Baltimore Cake

A white layer cake with fluffy frosting and fruit and nut filling

6. Apple Pie

A double crusted pie filled with apples, often served with whipped cream or ice cream

7. Pecan Pie

A pie filled with pecans, eggs, sugar and butter.  What could be better?

8. Tiramisu

A layered Italian dessert of lady fingers dipped in coffee and a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar and mascarpone and dusted with cocoa

9. Lemon Meringue Pie

A pie filled with lemon curd filling and topped with meringue

10. Black Forest Cake

A chocolate and cream cake with a rich cherry filling

We shall see how many of these I can check off of my bucket list this year.  Of course, I can only make them when I have people to share them with!  Any takers?

A weekend with no expectations

 It feels so different having a weekend with no expectations.  It definitely feels good, just different.  This is the first time in a long time that I don't have homework.  Specifically, that I don't have a paper to write. Maybe I should just pick a topic and write a paper for old time's sake?  LOL  NO, that's not going to happen. I am going to thoroughly enjoy this respite and freedom from the old college try!

While I do have things I need to get done, I am in no rush to get them done.  It's not that I am unmotivated, it's simply that I do not have a required time frame in which to get them done this weekend for the first time. That is so glorious.  And, knowing myself, I will probably get more done than I expected simply because of that. When there's no pressure, there's more productivity.  At least in my world.

I will make some time for fun things this weekend.  Of course, fun to me may not be what others consider fun but that is fine because this isn't about other people.  It's about me.  And that's not selfish, that's self-care. Hopefully I will see a few people.  Might even venture out of the house for a non-errand excursion. Who knows.  The possibilities are endless.  It's a nice place to be in for the first time in months.  I'm very proud of the hard work I put into class and my efforts with school.  But now it is time to get back to me for a while and I am totally fine with that.  

Now I am going to finish up my coffee and get started on my weekend list.  Not because I have to but because I want to.  There's a major difference and I am relishing that!  See you on the other side!

That is all. 

It's time to mop the kitchen!

 I really need to mop my kitchen floor this weekend. And the odd thing is that I am looking forward to it.  It's been way too long.  And by way too long I mean long enough that I'm not going to tell you.  While I do keep it swept as best as I can, I just have not had the motivation to get the old mop bucket out and clean the floor.  Between work and school, the last thing I wanted to do was move everything out of the kitchen, wait a few hours for the floor to dry then move everything back.  I know, it's an excuse.  Not a good one but there you go.

I bought a new mop set last year.  I really do like it.  You know when you're an adult when buying a new mop is a highlight in life. When Michael lived here we had a Swiffer but we felt that would serve him better in his new space.  So, I went for the more traditional, old fashioned kind of mop.  I guess it's that vintage guy in me that likes that style.  It may be a little more work than the new steam kinds you see today, but I have much more of a sense of accomplishment once I'm done.

So, my plan is sometime this weekend to block a few hours off and mop my kitchen.  Maybe I can relax with a movie in between dismantling and resetting the kitchen. Or maybe find something to do in the front of the house or even outside.  Who knows.  Welcome to the fun of adulthood!

Time to start Christmas shopping

 Now that Christmas is less than 8 months away, not that I'm counting down the days, it's time for me to start looking at my Christmas list.  And not the list for me but for other people.  As you know I love giving gifts. I love to find the perfect gift for someone else.  And by the perfect gift, I simply mean one that has had some thought put into it.  I am always filing little details away when people mention things that they like, or they share memories of things that meant something to them.  It gives me a good idea of where to start. That often leads to other ideas and so forth. 

Starting this early gives me plenty of time to find fun gifts.  I didn't buy many gifts last year because my life had changed so much.  My friends that get together each Christmas decided to forego it last year and just get together and have a good time, which we did.  And other than family, I didn't really buy much for anyone.  And that is ok.  It is where I was last year.  But this year I'm ready for more.  I am going to edit my list and see who needs to be added. The thing about gifts, at least for me, is that they don't have to be extravagant or ridiculously expensive. It truly is the thought.  Whenever I'm given a gift or a card, it makes me feel good because someone was thinking of me.  Someone took the time to make sure I was remembered and that's important.  That is the true gift.

Sometime over the next week I will organize my list and start my shopping.  By the way, spreading out your shopping is much easier on the budget!  And I will rediscover the joy of gift giving at Christmas.  It's as much about the joy it brings me as it is about the joy it hopefully brings others.

That is all. 

The Lusty Month of May

 I thought I would start the month with a song about May.  I turned to one of my favorite theater scores of all time, Camelot, and the amazing original cast performance by the legendary Julie Andrews.  I know that the show suffered from book problems, but what a cast.  Sadly, I have never seen it live on stage.  I've seen the movie, which is beautifully filmed but I find it boring LOL  If I could go back in time and see any original cast, this would be right up there on the list.  Enjoy!