OK and TX trip

 I had a whirlwind trip to see my cousin in Southern OK.  Left at 3pm Friday and got there 7:30pm.  Just starting to get dark and a little cool.  I drove our convertible and had such a nice drive to and from.  Cousin and her husband have been very careful getting out too much and being in crowds since the Covid 19 virus, as have DH and myself.  But we decided to go ahead with this little visit, because she and I both needed it.  This time of year she usually comes to NW Arkansas and my aunts come south and we all do the War Eagle craft fair.  This is the first year we have missed this women's weekend since 1995 when we started.  So, cousin and I decided just she and I would visit...I just saw one aunt last weekend and saw my sister when we moved my Granny.

Friday night we caught up and had wonderful late salad meal and went to bed pretty early after I got the tour of her home she shares with her delightful husband B.  They have a view of the south over the Red River, into North Texas that is about 15 miles.  I should have photographed it.  They also have 3 barn kitties, a big dog a little dog and 10 new chickens and a rooster.  She and I both enjoy gardening and so i took her a kalanchoe and a mother of thousands plant (both succulents).  Earlier this summer I mailed her a banana plant start off my plant my friend from Florida mailed me last year.  In this year of Covid, i have mailed and received seeds/plants from a few friends - it makes me smile.  I have also mailed a few care packages and that makes me smile too.  Food, cards, candles, blankets, etc.

Sat morning cousin and I got up and went to the Dallas Arboretum to see all the pretty fall pumpkins and gourds and we had such a nice time.  It was beautiful there!

 

Sat evening we went to Sam Moon and Bucees, because...well it is Texas!  Sam Moon and Bucees were busy, but we felt comfortable wearing our masks like everyone else and keeping our distance.  We got to go food from the Cheesecake Factory in Lakeview (?) which was crowded!  That was the only time we sort of felt uncomfortable, but again, we just kept masks on and washed our hands frequently.  We ate in her car!

Sunday morning we visited more (non stop gabbing for us, lol) and talked about books and podcasts we recommended to each other.  I recommended the Bible Recap podcast to her and told her i recently had listened to Sally Field, Demi Moore and Jessica Simpson memoirs and she told me some of her book picks, including this Crazy Sexy Diet book and I ordered it on the spot from Ebay, along with one of her favorite books, Steering by Starlight, by Martha Beck.  I was lucky to find these 2 books used for $3 and $4 dollars, buy 3 get shippin free on Ebay!  I also got a couple more of my husband's fave authors (Nelson DeMille and Harlen Coben).  I have many of our favorite authors in hardback displayed in our library/dining room and I have all the ones we have in a digital file so when i find used book deals shopping, i can look to see if we have the particular title.  I use Inkpad app and i can share my notes among diff formats (laptop, cell phone) and i can share the notes with DH if he does the grocery shopping.

I am working this afternoon and enjoying my candle I got at Bucees.  We both smelled about 40 and decided this one was our favorite.  DH even likes it.

Do you have a favorite candle that you enjoy?  This one smells sort of masculine, with hint of cinnamon maybe.  I also liked My Dear Watson from Scentsy, but i am not sure if they still make it.  

I like this mug my cousin had, trying to stay positive in this uncertain time of Covid and leading into an election...yuck I don't like discord and confrontation.  I avoid political talk then feel guilty like i should get better at discussing and hearing diff views.  Uggggh.  Well, i did have a great discussion with cousin and her husband about politics, beliefs, even religion and spirituality.  We can all discuss with respect - that is what is missing from social media today - the respect.  Like the disrespect i felt from a former friend the last year and a half which made me ask for distance from her - she tells you her beliefs and how they differ from yours and makes you feel like you are wrong and i don't need it!  Plenty of people in my life who make me feel inspired and energized, not defective and broken!  Stay away from people like that!

Well, back on the healthy eating bandwagon.  I splurged way too much the last 2 weeks, so i made some squash and zucchini soup and will have that tonight.  Had a nice salad today for lunch.  I walked yesterday (my zoom yoga cancelled yesterday, my yoga instructor is on a meditation training).  I will walk another 4 today and tomorrow going on a challenging hike -5 miles, so that will be good for me.  But, it is supposed to be 84 tomorrow!  Whew.

What are you doing to enjoy the fall?  

See you soon

Wednesday Inspiration

Despite being tired I had good day at the gym after work yesterday.  You know how somedays it is just a chore?  Well, it went well yesterday.  I got my walk done and then did 30 min on the bike.  Got home and showered, ready for bed.  Stayed up too late visiting with my Aunt.  Then we had to watch our Grace and Frankie episode.  I have to pack up my laundry and pick up a little tonight, since I get up zoon to work and leave directly from work.  Can't wait to get home.

Called DH on my way home from gym last night.  I always call him before bed, but I was calling 8ish to let him know I was planning to go to bed early.  Well, he sounded really up and happy and I heard music in the background.  He had gone to a bike night about 20 miles away with a neighbor we knew had a bike.  I was happy to know he got out and did something. 

More on that...my husband has really made some great changes lately.  He stopped taking pain medication and is trying lyrica for his back pain and having some results with that.  He sounds really good.  I can't wait to see him in person.  We have never been apart for 10 days before and never will again. 

I listened to a couple of Super Soul Sunday podcasts this morning.  One of them about False Ego.  I need to stop letting my ego boss me around.  Then listened to Nordic True Crime podcast about the sinking of the MS Estonia, a ferry that sank in the Baltic Sea in 1994.  The story is crazy about how the ferry wreckage and the people who went down with it were left down there and considered a "grave" and any diving there is prohibited by law.  A man came forward who worked there and said that there were military equipment shipments (in vehicles) that were ordered through and not to inspected and other questionable things...I never knew all this happened after the accident.  You should check out Nordic True Crime podcast.  It is good.  Her voice is soothing and the music is creepy.

I also recently listened to Heartland, a memoir by Sarah Smarsh.  It was good.  About growing up poor rural Kansas.  I always thought my family/ancestors were pretty poor also, but at least my relatives seemed to have fairly consistent/stable lives, compared to the family Smarsh discusses.  My grandmother grew up rural northern Missouri and was poor farmers, but my grandmother says they did not really know they were poor during the Depression because everyone else was poor too.

Well, I saw this and liked what it said.  Have a great Wednesday!

Quote

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/?m=1
I recently listened to the Stephanie Madolf Mack memoir "The End of Normal".  She gives a quote that made me stop what I was doing and write it down:  "...These banalities of everyday life aren't anything you think to preserve, much less cherish..."  But anyone who has been through any type of trauma or heartbreak will tell you they totally are.  And I think that was what she was trying to say.  Her husband was Bernie Madolf's oldest son and was devastated to the point of suicide by his father's crime. She had 2 young children with Mark Madolf before he died.
I am actually looking forward to hot yoga tonight, Tues night eagle pose eluded me on my left leg (my stronger balance leg) but I totally nailed it on the right!  Yes.  I still can barely suffer through the pose where he makes us stand on one leg and grab the other foot with both hands while face down to bent knee, then we straighten the knee keeping our head down to knee (I don't know what this one is called).  But I feel progress being made...I will get there!  I just recently got into a handstand position and could hold it (with a spotter).  I cannot get into it fluidly, I do a bit of huffing and puffing and maybe even a squeal, but I can support myself with my arms.  That is the first step...actually that is not true...the first step is saying "I can do this". 
Have shown my house twice now.  I am showing it again this weekend I think.  And hopefully finishing all projects by cleaning/sandling/touching up my deck so we can put the sign in the yard Sunday.  Hopefully that will get us some more traffic the next weekend.  That weekend it is our neighborhood garage sale and the parade of homes - both happening weekend of April 25.  Of course I will be out of town at a continuing education seminar, but I am thinking of taking the dogs with me (we have a doggy door and a fenced yard at RH - so they can come and go while I am gone all day).  And then DH can focus on showing the house if nec.  He will be recovering from arm surgery (it is minor - some nerve damage, they will clean up some impingement happening at elbow).  So it will be perfect excuse for him to sit around and relax (and show the house, fingers crossed!).
The woman last night who came has a buyers agent and this buyers agent has really worked me over good about the commission.  I finally suggested that we finish the discussion if her client actually liked my house.  Geez, why are we even worrying about it now?!  This is a young divorcing mother of 2 teenage sons.  A nurse.  Her parents were with her.  Very nice, from California.  The agent let me know that the parents are capable of writing a check for cash.  Note:  she did not say they were GOING to pay with cash.  So much posturing.  Uggggh.  I HATE it.  I spare all the teeth gnashing and griping for DH and basically take it out on my friend at work who is 1)  well versed in buying and selling property and 2)  is from California.  He told me surely we had sold it when I told him the buyers agent called me after the showing discussing some of my homes weaknesses the ceiling (our huge vaulted ceiling has been repaired/spot painted from water damage from a storm back in 2012), the carpet downstairs is old and shows dirt and our deck needs to be repainted.  Well, I laughed and said we are waiting for the weather to cooperate to do the deck and the carpet is easily replaced - with someone's personal preference and the ceiling is what it is.  It is not hideous to look at, not really all that noticeable, but a discerning eye can surely see it and plus, we will have to disclose the water damage anyway.  DH and I were surprised nothing was said about our old white appliances.  Was she posturing or just thinking down the road if she does work with me.  I don't know.  I just know that this house is going to sell soon.  The sooner the better as we try to live in the house with 2 dogs and work full time downtown - 20 miles away.  But, it sure is fun living in such a clean and uncluttered home in the meanwhile with almost all projects done (except that pesky deck!).
After the showing last night, we exchanged a set of bath towel bars at the home store and went out for dinner and it was nice to just relax and not work on either house for an hour.  We talked a bit out our future and it was nice.  Then we came home and watched Josh Gates on TV.  HIs new show is called Legendary Locations and we enjoyed it.  And I worked on this afgan that I am making for my friend who is fostering my kitty all these months.  Her favorite color is blue so I used a medium bright cornflower sort of blue and a baby blue (it looks white in the photo, but is not) in this fun chevron pattern.  I know she will like it.  I have to sort of hurry though, because I find I don't work as well on crochet in the warmer weather.  I am outside as much as I can be and it is too warm working on a blanket on my lap in the heat.  Happy Thursday!

My Eyes are Bigger than My Suburban

So, we had more confidence in the cargo abilities of the suburban than it actually has.  We could only fit 2 of the bookcases in, but we got all the last of our books loaded too!  Next time we go down, in 2 weeks, we can take the other 2 bookcases.  DH was disappointed, but I reminded him how great it was that after this load we will have all our books down at RH.  And the only thing worse than books, might be hanging clothes to move!

 

Anyway, we have a plethora of books.  But my DH loves books and has a nice collection of encyclopedias and was not even open to consider getting rid of them.  Also we both love similar mystery/crime novels and have a nice collection of fiction and so we have allowed for half and half.  I truly do plan to get back into reading in earnest once we are retired and I am not reading at work every day.  I have an advanced degree which required a lot of boring reading and I dreamed of the day when I would be able to read fiction.  That day is close!  And not a moment too soon.  I truly am getting to a place where my age and chronic condition are making me feel like I could not continue to work much longer, even if I wanted to!  I am sure it is just a culmination of the past year stress and intensifying that I know we will literally be unable to avoid as we continue to move stuff, finish fixing up projects of RH, fix projects of CH we are selling, list/show/sell CH, live in temp location while DH finishes his last few months, get all my licenses/CE moved to retirement state, finish taxes, worry about my DGM and the effect of all this on her, continue to help her with her books, etc.  My stomach just hurts thinking about it.

 

So, I take a deep yoga breath.  Practice my meditation.  Continue my walks (I walked after work yesterday!).  And do the little day to day steps to help all this happen.  I.E.  we are following the money we are waiting on from the sale of our expensive car - we are using it to pay off our phones and other costs, like the expense of getting our downstairs CH carpet stretched and cleaned.  In this same month we have gone from expensive service with large cellular provider to the plans at WM.  Going from $207/month to $120/month.  But, we did have outlay of significant costs of my new phone and DH year old phone he had to pay off.  My intention is to wean off my phone more, of the couple year life that these phone essentially have.  After 2 years both my last 2 models got very slow and do not hold a charge.  I do not have IPhone, which was what the media focused on few months ago - but I seriously doubt this problem/feature/design is limited just to iphones. 

 

One of the big reasons I have been tethered to my phone was the constant activity required to sell stuff.  I am finished doing that.  Although the cash was nice, it came with it's own cost (serious time drain!).  I have pretty much officially changed over my wardrobe to what I think will be useful casual (daily stuff, walking, yoga, kayaking, hiking and golf), from my corporate wardrobe.  I hope to never look back, but if I do, I can buy new stuff!  Just last night I used my last credits from clothes we sold to buy a 2nd hand hooded raincoat and a pair of slightly used Bean boots.  I am so excited!  I just go through in my mind what I will get rid of...and I will prob get rid of a couple coats that are duplicative and sort of dressy that lack waterproof/hood.  I will also get rid of pair of cheap/non waterproof boots and a pair of slippers to make room for new. 

 

So, that are some things that make me happy while I am dreading/anxious about my looming to-do list.  Hope you all have a great Friday.  I will have a great weekend, but I will be tired from loading and unloading, a little unsatisfied we could not get all the bookcases and starting a strick elimination diet due to my stomach issues I have had for over a week.  I just have to focus on my gratitude, my God and His plan.