tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19310217217087138502024-03-18T21:14:02.486-04:008th Day8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.comBlogger610125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-91290229224388931412024-03-17T20:28:00.003-04:002024-03-17T20:28:47.661-04:00One step forward, two steps backThis year has not been particularly productive so far.I had challenged myself to write at least one blog post every month. Not that I have many interesting things to say, but more to document my personal journey through this strange thing we call life. But here we are, past mid-March and I already failed. This is February's entree. Now I have to play catch-up.I had gained8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-17139321173144620822024-01-05T09:39:00.000-05:002024-01-05T09:39:06.674-05:002024 ResolutionLast year I made a resolution to pay more attention to my relationship with Martha. We have now been together for well over 30 years (!) and like most long term relationships, things had gotten into predictable patterns, both good and bad. So I made a concerted effort to outwardly appreciate all she does to keep our household running and I bit the inside on my cheeks when she loaded 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-15972789787533351122023-10-09T11:33:00.000-04:002023-10-09T11:33:01.823-04:00September Mourn September has traditionally been a hard month for me. But what was once a debilitating time has settled into more of a dull ache, a tender heart, tears closer to the surface. I have learned to ride the wave of feelings and feel what needs to be felt. Fortunately with all the healing practices I have learned, I no longer get stuck in my head for long.But this September has 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-48262569095453473762023-08-10T09:25:00.001-04:002023-08-10T09:25:39.023-04:00Where Have All the Veggies Gone ? The trials and tribulations of gardening.I planted my small vegetable garden, as usual, in early May. Mostly green beans which I freeze for use all year and tomatoes which we eat as they ripen and also to can pasta sauce and some chili. I also plant some other veggies - cukes, eggplant, zucchini and melons. This was my garden shortly after planting. Then 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-74543373801409121022023-07-10T20:39:00.001-04:002023-08-24T20:39:44.635-04:00If you want to make god laugh . . . . . . just tell him your plans.Having had a career in the planning profession, this was a common joke as plans were rarely, if ever, developed as originally conceived.Which brings me to my unborn granddaughter, conceived 40 weeks ago. She is my oldest daughter’s second child. Due date - July 9th.But as the pregnancy continued into the later weeks, the baby was breech. 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-67568408373631581752023-06-09T07:59:00.003-04:002023-06-09T08:24:55.023-04:00In memory Misha, 16+ years old, died peacefully and without pain in her bed, assisted by vet Carlin, and surrounded by her loving family, the morning of May 31st. Misha slowly became deaf and suffered from hip and rear leg pain the last years of her life but was always up and excited for her daily walk. Until she wasn’t. Which was the sign that she was ready to go, even though 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-21592137774308172812023-02-09T18:58:00.001-05:002023-02-09T18:58:28.579-05:00The Estate Sale A while back a friend invited me to join her at an estate sale. I had been to one years ago where rooms of beautiful antique furniture were on display and for sale. Being a lover of old-fashioned wood craftsmanship, I happily agreed to go.We drove for about an hour as the landscape became more and more rural and eventually wound up at a small, deteriorating farmhouse. I 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-14713005682613974132023-01-05T06:38:00.000-05:002023-01-05T06:38:25.045-05:00Marriage ResolutionsI recently learned of a former acquaintance who is heartbroken after her 3rd marriage has dissolved. I also read a story about a couple divorcing after 70 years of marriage.I thought I was beyond making New Year’s resolutions as, at my age, I am pretty set in my ways. But these two occurrences had me thinking about marriages and what makes them work. Or not. Martha and I have 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-6699730037060903802022-12-02T15:36:00.001-05:002022-12-02T20:14:35.085-05:00Season of WonderRandom things I have been wondering about:I wonder where I can get Cate Blanchette’s wardrobe from Tár. Please Santa ?My daughter is a social worker in a middle school She recently had to meet with a boy who was showing porn to the girls on the bus. Specifically, a woman having sex with a squid. And no, I am not wondering about having sex with a squid. But I do 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-29358077188872055422022-09-27T07:07:00.001-04:002022-09-27T07:07:45.455-04:00Full of GraceBack when I was in therapy for PTSD, my therapist suggested that I start a gratitude practice. I would often post Full of Grace posts here, trying to include at least 5 things I was particularly grateful for. It is a practice I still continue, although more privately these days. But today I want to write about over 50+ things I am grateful for.Last week I attended the funeral 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-67650702707025302722022-09-16T11:22:00.000-04:002022-09-16T11:22:13.960-04:00What Happened to Summer? Holy Moly, what happened to summer?We spent most of July finishing our camp kitchen renovation. It was a project that was supposed to be done in April but a huge snowstorm, babysitting emergencies and a few construction mistakes (putting a screw through a water line while hanging a cabinet, oops) delayed the completion. Hoisting cabinets and installing new lighting, 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-67542771453305154162022-07-13T08:31:00.002-04:002022-07-13T08:31:40.345-04:00Full of Grace As the world seems to be spinning out of control and hate seems to be the norm, I continue to work at being grateful for all the light in my life and also to recognize how many kind people there are.A visit from my Florida daughter which allowed me to take both my infant grandsons on their first carousel rides. The day will come when they, like my daughters, will want to do the thrill8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-41444851596491477792022-05-28T11:41:00.000-04:002022-05-28T11:41:05.508-04:00Emotional Triage Years ago I recognized that trauma was stealing my life. I made a decision to start the hard work of therapy and reclaim what was mine to begin with - my body, my voice, my right to safely exist. It has not been a straight path to healing, and I have often fallen off the path. Still, my therapist and the wonderful folks I met while writing about it on this blog, gave me a8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-72470369694541380532022-05-05T10:26:00.000-04:002022-05-05T10:26:10.184-04:00How To HelpI am having difficulty processing the devastating impact 6 robed people can have on the majority of citizens. And I'm struggling to hold together my own painful emotions around rape and the impact of unwanted pregnancies. I hope to write more about that in the future.In the meantime I am reposting some important information on how to help women, if you are able. This list is extensive 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-75647380343987184402022-02-03T08:51:00.001-05:002022-02-03T08:51:56.493-05:00ExhaustedI am back from an exhausting 5 days in Florida. I traveled with my oldest, extremely disorganized daughter and her 7 week old son. Just getting through airport security - carry ons, baby, diaper bag, breast pumps, breast milk, etc. - was a keystone cop comedy in itself. My youngest daughter had to return to work after her maternity leave and we were there to help out before8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-60373212081423006192022-01-18T09:47:00.000-05:002022-01-18T09:47:55.709-05:00January It has been cold and blustery here. Snow, ice, below freezing temperatures. January in the northeast.I like to spend this time of year perusing seed catalogs. The variety of flowers and vegetables is overwhelming, and I have long given up on trying too many new things. Now I stick to a few standard veggies - tomatoes, green beans, a couple of peppers and zucchini and8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-46374484233214922612022-01-14T08:42:00.000-05:002022-01-14T08:42:14.076-05:00Covid BluesMy niece finally got to have her wedding (canceled from last year) on New Year’s Eve. The rescheduling was bittersweet as her father died this past summer and everything felt more somber than a wedding should feel. Nonetheless, my sister was adamant that there be a celebration and a stunningly beautiful reception was planned at a venue overlooking the skyline of Manhattan. 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-9766526101905720512021-12-21T11:49:00.001-05:002021-12-21T11:49:52.499-05:00Full of Grace - 10 year cancerversary10 years ago, I had a bilateral mastectomy to remove 3 estrogen triggered tumors found during a routine mammogram. The breasts were removed along with a few lymph nodes from both armpits. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early and had not yet begun to spread. My Onco score, which guesstimates the chances of recurrence, was borderline high between statistically not needing 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-89473890916895974762021-10-05T09:07:00.000-04:002021-10-05T09:07:10.999-04:00OmensThis is a dogwood tree we planted to commemorate our youngest daughter’s birth. It flowers every year around her birthday. And then it produces these red berry-like things that the birds, squirrels and chipmunks enjoy.I have found that the number of berries is a good predictor of our winter weather. I think it is nature's way of providing little critters with some food stores.&8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-89832309825148840052021-09-16T09:05:00.000-04:002021-09-16T09:05:31.462-04:00Oh Baby!My first grandson was due September 3rd. My daughter was hopeful that he would come early as he had already grown to a healthy weight. But all week she hadn’t dilated at all and they scheduled her to begin an induction on the 3rd. Martha and I flew down to hot and humid Florida on the 2nd to be able to dog sit while she was in the hospital. Due to Covid, only her 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-63069451486055423512021-07-22T16:30:00.005-04:002021-07-22T16:30:54.641-04:00 Family SecretsOn July 9th, my brother-in-law passed into his next chapter after a long and painful struggle with pancreatic cancer. He and my sister started dating in high school and I had known him for better than 50 years. He was more of a brother to me than my own brother and his absence will leave a very large hole in my heart.I drove down a day before the funeral to help with preparations. 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-61514918356143112602021-06-27T08:40:00.000-04:002021-06-27T08:40:42.287-04:00A Rose by Any Other NameWhen Martha and I had kids we went by Mom and Mommy. Easy. As the girls got older they came up with their own nicknames for us, which they still use. After they married, their husbands called us by our first names. It all seems to work.By the end of the year we will be grandparents to two boys. One grandson will have 3 grandmothers, so that's not so difficult. 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-68120172675765686422021-04-16T07:07:00.001-04:002021-04-16T07:07:11.463-04:00Re-Entry My daughters are 18 months apart in age, and they were only one year apart in school. This worked out great when they were young as they always had each other to play with. But as they got older we realized how we never got a break from age related festivities. One year the oldest was invited to bar and bat mitzvahs and then the next year, the youngest. We only had one 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-14421331496584482542021-02-16T07:16:00.000-05:002021-02-16T07:16:07.723-05:00Full of Grace I have been trying to be more active in the blogging world, catching up on friends, old and new, and trying to write a few posts myself. However, I have been having quite the problem leaving comments on blogs and also replying to comments left on my site. I *think* I have now solved the problem (a security setting) but I do apologize if my comments haven’t appeared in the last 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931021721708713850.post-36824638216954758992021-02-12T10:35:00.001-05:002021-02-12T10:35:10.954-05:00Vaccinated How are vaccines going in your neck of the woods?In New York they have been slow with an onerous procedure to try to get an appointment.My oldest daughter was the first in our family to be eligible as she works in a hospital emergency room and a school. Her hospital coordinated the appointments and has finished the 2 shot protocol. She had some mild side effects following each 8thdayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.com13