What is being 60 like? Being 60 has been a bummer so far, because I fell down on the 21st (the day before my birthday). You know those shopping strips that have a high sidewalk, such that stepping down into the parking lot is kinda dicey for people with short legs, like me? Some people were coming in the same door I was leaving through, and they distracted me: I failed to be careful enough and landed on my knees. (When I was a doctor in Texas we had an acronym for that: DFD = done fell down—as in "He was working in the garage and then he done fell down.") Fortunately, not only did the people pause to make sure I was OK, but they included a really strong woman who locked her arms together and leaned back, allowing me to do what toddlers do—"pull to stand." I warned her that I weighed a lot, but she insisted, and it worked! By the time I got home, though, my knees were hurting. They hurt so much so much the following day (my birthday) I could only just barely manage standing up. Bob's been ambivalent about the big round brass table we got from his mom—because she didn't have room for it in her assisted-living studio apartment—but he could see how helpful it was to have two points for balancing when I get up from the green futon. I was so sore I couldn't do my Qigong (chee-GUNG) exercises for a few days, and got depressed as a result. All the way down to -4, and me saying "ouch" at every step to the bathroom... and "ouch" is not the right four-letter word for me climbing the stairs. Being 60 does feel a little different—and gee, I just noticed I've got to change the line above my avatar to "rockin' my 60s." =laugh= I haven't had a chance to write in my journal, though, so I don't know yet what it feels like. It is a little weird to wake up one day, and suddenly I qualify for some of the senior discounts.
=OUCH= That's the sound of my making a loud moaning noise when I rearranged my legs. I can't let them stay in the same position for long, or I get stuck and have a heck of a time getting up.
Gratitude check-in: what do I appreciate today? I appreciate how as she matures, Nénu (short for
nénuphar, French for "water lily") is getting really affectionate. She climbs up my right side when my iPad or book is parked on the left, and purrrrrrs. (I gotta say it, to those of you who are dog people: I appreciate dogs, because they're usually in a good mood, and they encourage you to take a walk with them, but cats who purr have a definite advantage.)
Gosh, I haven't told y'all yet what Grace gave me for my birthday: she made two tiles, one with Nénu bursting from a lotus, and the other one with a picture of Oscar the kitten, a picture of Oscar Wilde, and one of OW 's witticisms about friendship, in calligraphy. Since Oscar Wilde lived a good fifty years later than Edgar A. Poe, a wide variety of good photo portraits are available. I'm having almost as much fun calling the male kitten "Oscar Wilde" as I did calling the last male "Edgar Poe": we've accidentally called Oscar "Edgar" and Nénu "Annabel Lee" numerous times—even "Oscar Poe" has been said a few times, an appellation the human named "Oscar Wilde" probably wouldn't mind. Anyway, she coated the tiles with something clear and durable, and they arrived just in time to be coasters on the big round brass table—sweeeeeet... I guess one would call them "decoupage": whatever it is, I love them!
Did you miss getting to see
their last photo? That's Nénu on the left and Oscar on the right. =happy sigh= They still sneeze several times a day, but I'm such a happy kitty mommy, it's no big deal. And guess what? My breeder is giving us a 100% refund on what we paid for them, because of the vet bills and medication prices for their upper respiratory infection.
IBelieveInMe2 , 02-23-2015 09:43 PM
VermontMom , 02-25-2015 06:39 PM
this winter has been brutally cold!! at least we have not been pounded with the insane snow that Boston has. I hope you enjoyed your time with your book. We all need that! I'm glad that your daughter is coming soon for break! 
because I was instantly furious at having to deal with sh*t lettuce. And that co-workers say 'oh it's so slow' until I arrive, then there are 4 people all at once for me to make sandwiches for. 
but it's just an avalanche of aggravations..then 15 minutes before closing, a man in standing in the darkened deli which has "Deli Closed" signs up, and asked for 2 sandwiches. Agian, not a big deal to any of you right 
except of course while I'm doing that, other customers are piling up at the register, and then the man tells me "you can take care of them first" and I said "NO, you tell them that they have to wait because of you". I have always tried to be kind and considerate but I just don't care anymore. I get stabby angry now 
I thought for sure we would hear from her on or around her birthday. I hope she is okay! 
But I am happy to hear that you are trying hard to overcome them! Don't give up HOPE for yourself!!! You can do this!!! You are SO close to ONEderland!!! Make it there for YOU..... because you deserve it!!! 
I am right there with you (at 207 lbs) and have not seen ONEderland for about 5 years now, so we can do this together! Let's make a conscious effort to NOT sabotage ourselves and our progress. Tell yourself that THIS TIME you are NOT going to shut down and start gaining weight again. You are going to PLOW FORWARD right into ONEderland where you belong!!! 
CONGRATULATIONS on your new puppy, Jackson! 
It's hard to be in a "funk" with a new puppy around! They are so adorable, playful, and full of love! If you can, please post a picture for us. I would love to see him! 
Please check in when you can! 
