Small Joys — quiet peace

day 218

Random # 101

Spend most of the day quietly

Well I had breakfast with Sean and went to two stores and spoke to clerks, and spoke to Peter a little. But I’ve mostly been on my own and in my head all day. It’s been delicious.

Memories of wee two (Peter)

Once when my son was about 3, just forming full sentences, he came to me, very serious. I was sitting down, and he put his hand on my knee and he looked me straight into my eyes, and said (with a hint of disappointment?) “Batman is not a potato.”

We still have no idea what inspired this announcement. We asked him months later and he had no idea what we were talking about.

Small Joys — organize

Day 217

Random #474

organize things

Big tiring day, but my happiest place: organizing things. Unpacked 8 boxes and numerous other containers. Nearly everything is in its place in a new home.

Small Joys — catch up edition

Day 213

Random # 230

Find and photo 3+ heart shapes

Still not finished. This is hard! I e found a couple… but I forget to look and I just dint see much when I do. Here’s the two I found and they’re not good…

I like the curve of Skitty’s tail here so I’m seeing a heart with her keg.

Rubberband heart!

Day 214

Random # 473

Print on the brink cards

Done, now to leave them places…

Day 215

Random # 266

mend something

Well barbara mended my purse for me. Of course she had the right needle and options of thread color. She’s my joy.

Day 216

Random #57

make a list

So many lists. Moving is a big game of organization. But it’s reminding what to pack and bring.

Favorite aunts

I have many favorite things, so I wasn’t sure what I’d post for an Instagram prompt. Looking up other things today, I rediscovered this photo of my two maternal aunts from May 2017.

My whole life, Lynne and Laurie each referred to themselves as My Favorite Aunt. And they were both right. Sisters and yet very different, both had big influences on my life.

Lynne (on right) battled cancer off and on for 20 years. On the day of this photo, we didn’t know she’d be diagnosed a few months later with her fourth(?) cancer and pass away 11 months later. I suppose Laurie is my final Favorite Aunt. But it’s really hard to think of one without the other.

Note: they always coveted my curly hair (from my dad’s genes). And clearly I now covet their natural blonde hair.

Packing

Ok I’ve started packing!!!! … for my temporary 3 1/2 month (or longer) move to Tampa. Been holding off because if I started too early, then I’d pack too much. And no matter when I start, I will keep packing until it is time to leave.

So I began with sheets (for two beds) and books — that was three boxes. Priorities, right!? I am packing far more books than i would ever read in three months. But i want choices. And also books are a decorative item! Who would I be without a full bookshelf!

I’ve also packed towels, hair stuff and toiletries (as in all the backup stuff and such from under the sink that I never remember I have. Maybe I’ll use it up now — skin care and all that. Threw out some stuff as I went too…). I even packed toilet paper and boxes of kleenex ‘cause we have so much here in this big house and it helps lighten the boxes of books.

I packed greeting cards and address book so i can get back to sending out cards! I have missed it!

I packed two bags of board games — along with small baggies and my label maker so i can label/organize these games.

I have even packed three bags of canned soups, pasta and cereal from our pantry.

I think that is enough packing for today.

I am not packing every single thing because I will be back and forth to West Palm Beach and I will need clothes and toiletries here too. And if i forget anythung or change ny mind in anything, sean and I will be back and forth every few weeks.

I need my bread making stuff!

What’s saving my life

1. Making bread
2. Savoring time with friends
3. Lists
4. New mirrors
5. Eating less
6. Audiobooks
7. Good moisturizer
8. Stretching
9. Evening walks

Small Joys — questions and constitutions

Day 211

Random number 126

Start weekly photo challenge on FB

I asked for Photos of clouds yesterday. Have scheduled photo requests for next few weeks.

My contribution:

Day 212

Random number 472

Get a copy of US constitution

Done! Ordered 10 copies from ACLU. I’ll give them away.

Things I learned this weekend

Things I learned at Grato, a restaurant in West Palm Beach, this weekend:

1. N’duja is spicy sausage,
2. Guanciale is a cured pork from the cheeks of a pig,
3. Mezcal & aperol is delightfu & pretty,
4. My son likes peaches, but agrees with me that burrata is overrated.

Things to do in central Florida

List of activities in Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven

Saturday musings

I’m enjoying my far less-planned-out weekends and weeks. We socialize far less than we did pre-Covid, and then even less this year as we have prepped to move.

Only thing on my schedule today: lunch with friends

For tomorrow: manicure

Ahhh. Bliss.

With all this free time, I’ve really pared down the endless To Do list. And there’s just less to do with less planning and coordinating for socializing and going out.

Watching old and new movies with Peter and Sean. Crafting. Reading. Baking. Oh yes, all the things I’d been saying for years I wanted more of.

Going out less means less to post on social media and that is also a *very* good thing.

This move to a new town is naturally reducing our material things but also shifting our perspectives on everything. A new place to live and a slightly modified *way* to live.

Of course other reasons we don’t go out and do as much anymore: germs, guns, MAGAts, disquieting unease with other citizens who seem unaware of the growing darkness of the world

Small Joys — lunch & clothes

Day 210

# 422

Have lunch with friends

Had lunch with Barbara, Kevin and Susan. Friends for 30, 25, and 17 years. Wow! We went to Howleys on Dixie Highway. We all were wearing the same shirts from Flamingocon because we’d just dropped off a donation of games. As a consequence, we had two people ask us about the event and we talked it up and gave out business cards. It was a good lunch.

AND

#116

Take photos of outfits of the day

This was for an Instagram challenge. And today I wore 4 different outfits!

walking the dog:

Giving away games as part of Flamingocon:

Out to dinner at Grato with Peter:

And now my wrinkly cat-fur-covered pajamas!

Small Joys — friends

Day 209

Random number 471

Send gift to a friend in need

Victoria in Miami Beach is going through a tough time financially. Just mailed her a $50 Publix gift card. Was planning on $150, but that might be too much pressure, too big a gesture. Will have to think of something else small to send later.

Small Joys — elegant mirrors

Day 208

Random number 290

Finally replace master bathroom mirrors

Been meaning to do this for years. Finally! Maybe I’ll get one of these for the condo too…

Work meeting Tuesday

Must get as much of my work done as possible before Tuesday meeting with partner who makes me crazy. To whom, on a speaker phone call months ago, i announced loudly that I am ready to quit.

The one that women whisper about his dumb “jokes.” The one all new hires have to meet and listen to rambling stories and everyone treats as a rite of passage.

That’s who they send me an invite for a teams meeting for my annual review. 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Options for moving

Stay here — least expense, but stairs and high energy costs and PBC and we want change

Sell here & Buy house in Lakeland area — one story, close to Nora & USF, $100,000 less than current house, could get renewable energy, away from coast, away from PBC,

Sell here & Rent house in Lakeland area — gives us flexibility on when and where to buy, one story, close to Nora & USF, away from coast, away from PBC; but costs more and we move twice

Sell here & Buy or Rent out of Florida — one story, probably cheaper house, away from coast, away from PBC; maybe good to escape Fla while we can. But far from Nora & USF.

Sell here & nothing — put all in storage or condo, travel for a year: flexibility for choosing when and where to buy, risky, only if pets have passed

Bahhumbug AI

I can’t get excited for AI. Crappy art, crappy customer service, invasive in social media.

So many problems and mounting in this world; AI does nothing for hunger, sex crimes, war, social safety net, wait times for medications…

It IS good for research. Too bad we stopped funding research.

Small Joys — fixed it (I hope)

Day 207

Random # 341

What’s a small thing that bugs me? Fix it today

Been struggling to get a prescription filled with my gastro. Admittedly it’s been awhile since I’ve seen him. But I left three messages with his medical assistant over 8 days and they never called me back. One time, I spoke to a receptionist who “looked into it” and told me the prescription had been called in. It hadn’t.

Today I called the appointment coordinator and asked: do I need I need an appointment to get this medication renewed? They asked their superior and told me, yes. Now how difficult would it have been for someone to call me back and tell me that 7 days ago? Another week without heartburn meds, not cool. Good thing I have a mild case. Appointment Weds, and new ‘script then.

Anyway, I end the day happy I made progress on this annoying thing.

UPDATE: went to doctors appointment. Assholes kept me waiting more than an hour. Didn’t ask any questions or look at my throat. But called in prescription.

UPDATE: And guess what fuckers didn’t call in my prescription.

Copycat Levain cookie recipe

Levain chocolate chip walnut

Levain chocolate peanut butter chip

Taylor Swift trilogy of songs

What happens if one *only* listens to TS’s “august”: we learn Augustine has big feelings and wants to be understood and loved. Poor thing!

Yet what about Betty? Does she not have feelings and deserve to be understood and loved?

Isn’t there more to this story? I believe there is! Let’s see…

In “betty”, James points out he kinda neglected Betty. And then his friend Augustine maybe took advantage of that. Though, James is no fool — he admits to his own “worst intentions.”

Betty & James certainly grew from the experience. James realized he was wrong. Yes, “betty” is a lovely song.

James expresses regret, says his heart never left Betty.

Of course “cardigan” is nice too. Betty has moved on, having gotten perspective & wisdom with maturity.

Poor besotted Augustine will forever be cemented in the teenage love triangle drama. She’s stuck in the month of August long ago… sad.

Maybe Tay needs to write an update for Augustine so the child can move on.

“Cause you were never mine” is an astute observation by Augustine. She’s could grow and learn. It is just weird how that song lyric isn’t obsessed over and learned from. I guess it’s not convenient. 😉😆

Maybe the obsession with “august” is someone wants to be the misunderstood victim... but isn’t willing to extend grace to others. 🤷🏼‍♀️ And that is very sad.

Taylor wrote this lovely trio of songs to make a full complicated story. People miss out by only playing one song … on a constant loop.

Fun inside joke: my husband has called me his favorite girlfriend for thirty years. Like “you put me on and said I was your favorite.”

Randomly pulling out Taylor Swift lyrics *is* fun!

Doesn’t bug me at all who likes or doesn’t like “august.” I mean I like it — It is a catchy tune.

But i also recognize “august” is only a part of a larger story. Focusing on and sympathizing and even also *demanding sympathy* for only one third of the story is… weird.

Of course, in Taylor’s full story James is wanting to hang out with Betty. There is no James and Augustine, never was.

James was immature, but he learns from it, wants to improve himself.

Augustine is stuck and wistful, living in the past, reliving that summer in her mind. Needs an update.

Small Joys — diamonds!

Day 206

Random number 438

Watch classic old movie

Sean, Peter & I watched Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Great movie, fun catchy songs. Peter likes Marilyn Monroe now. It’d been 2 or 3 decades since I’d seen it; and Sean said he’d never seen the whole thing!

This movie choice was inspired by the Norton Art Museum showing the film on the big screen. We’d intended to go but Peter was indecisive and I decided to skip the driving part. It would be spectacular in a big screen! But we all enjoyed it.

Small Joys — singing

Day 205

Rando 22

Sing along loudly to Journey song

DON’T STOP BELIEVING! Done. In car of course. Satisfying.

Small Joys — Pisces stars

Day 204

Random number 1

Learn a new constellation

i never know how to find Pisces, my star sign. Looks like I’ll have to wait until I’m away from light pollution to have any chance of it. Once I am, hopefully I remember to look up these directions again.

August Ins & Outs

In:

1. Audio books
2. Losing weight & weekly weigh-ins
3. Work
4. Going away to college
5. Needlework
6. Decorating, setting up house, plans for improvements in Tampa condo
7. Survivor reruns
8. Daily stretches

Out:

1. Doom scrolling
2. Gassy foods
3. Store-bought treats
4. Mindless snacking
5. House hunting (for now)

Who I Am Right Now

three things about me

1. I’m a mom to two fantastic brilliant strong and very different adults. They’re my lights.

2. I’m in a period of transition. Letting my hair grow out and the grey grow out. Moving houses. Coasting to retirement. Losing weight (again). Changing how I interact with the world. Slowly (painfully) weaning myself off social media (nothing like a photo challenge to stymie that!).

3. I love to travel. This whole moving process has gotten in the way this year, but I have some spectacular USA/Canada road trips planned for me and @sean.brodrick as soon as we can, and smaller trips with friends. My flowery suitcase is ready!

#introduction #whoami #augustphotochallenge #transition #augusteyecandy