day 309

I will sip Silk, watch the ball drop in Times Square, and go to bed. That’s it for my exciting plans for New Year’s Eve. It’s been a pretty good year. I’ve been getting healthier than ever. I give credit to the fitbit for motivating me. Now I jump up and pace during commercials on TV and that is an improvement. Megan brought  another car load last night and will come tomorrow for several days of settling in and planning.

Day 308

Today I’ll get the senior news distributed. Don’t want to wait until Monday. It’s cold but clear and I have layers to keep warm. Thinking about a couple of pages of recap in my journal along with the usual intention of writing daily next year. When I look at old journals that are full of color, poems, pictures, and now I have nothing pretty. I want to get back to that mind set. The journal is a place for art.

Day 307

The floor is still damp so I haven’t tried adding water to the hot tub to see if it stays inside. I’m hopeful that the new connection piece will work. The young man at home depot was so helpful. He walked me from the plumbing department all the way out to garden and found the part. It will make it easy to connect the hose. The senior center was pleasant yesterday. Quieter than usual and lots of friendly conversations happened.

Day 306

Yesterday was full of errors and messes. I dropped and broke two things, slipped in dog poop, and decided to drain the hot tub. I couldn’t make the hose connect and was about to give up when I spotted the neighbor and asked for his help. He forced the whole thing and water squirted everywhere. Then he thought it was back together and water went out the hose. After that, more water appeared on the floor. I’m afraid it’s broken.

day 305

Spent time outside yesterday. It is necessary to be in the fresh air and sun whenever possible. Today I will go to church. I missed the Christmas Eve service when I chose to go to bed instead. I am not resting well and by 7 PM I want to do nothing. Megan may show up after work with more of her belongings. Won’t be long until she lives here permanently. Thursday is her last day at work. Change is coming.

day 304

It was a pleasant family day with sharing of tales and laughing. The dinner was perfect. We have arrived at the truth that just having a dinner menu without the frills is better for enjoying the main event. I went to bed early again and up early again. I would like to sleep past 4:30. It makes a long day. I have checks to write and take to the post office, a little grocery shopping. Otherwise it is an open day.

day 303

Didn’t make it to church. Went to bed instead. Just not feeling well. Megan had a harrowing trip through snow, hail, sleet, rain, and wind. Two hours to get here and she was worn out. More of her things came with her and the little house is beginning to look like her home. Today we will fix our traditional dinner and I’m looking forward to the fun of cooking together. Now there are four dogs under foot. It’s all good.

day 302

Hollie chose a six pound roast for $50! Wow. We better cook it right. We have slicked down the menu to just dinner. No pre-prandial noshes. Today I will go to the senior center. I liked having a week off. It’s very cold with the threat of snow close by. Bundle up for a walk if I get a break in the rain. Megan will drive up after work and bring more of her belongings. Soon she will be permanent.

Day 301

Good sleep. Woke up ready for the day. Yesterday was busy with the family in and out and that includes the two dogs. The chugs are busy creatures and my old girls just kind of watch them. I’m hopeful they will join in with playing and running around. Today Hollie and I will shop for Christmas dinner. It is the traditional menu: roast haunch of musk ox and root vegetables plus Brussel sprouts. It is our vestige of Christmas doings.

Day 300

Another restless night. I feel a cold coming on. I’ll head for the netti pot and the vitamin C. Megan is moving out of boxes and into living in the little house. She is excited about displaying her book collection. Her dogs and my old girls are getting used to each other. I did get out for a brief walk yesterday between showers and I’m hopeful for another chance today. I get cabin fever fast in the dark gray weather.

Day 299

9 hours and 33 minutes of daylight. We will get out light back a minute a day. I did make space for Megan in the kitchen. She arrived late yesterday and is staying for two days to start unpacking the boxes. I made the bed for her. It was far easier to make the bed back when I was 48.  The loft space requires certain calisthenics to achieve. I hope I at least made some active minutes on the fitbit.  

day 298

Out yesterday and loved it. Now rain and wind for a week. I did sort the closet and today I will make changes in two kitchen cupboards to make room for Megan’s big items until we get her kitchen remodeled. She is coming tomorrow to begin unloading the boxes and putting things away. She has a knack for making maximum use of small spaces. I will go to church and then find a productive way to use this dark day. 

Day 297

Clearing spot this morning for a trip to the farm stand. I enjoy their fresh produce and support their business. I’m going for dog food at the feed store and a walk by myself. I’ve been having unpleasant dreams and waking time in the middle of the night. When I wake up before 5 AM I am not rested. Even though that’s what’s happening, I jump out of bed and get busy, just not with the usual humming and dancing.

Day 296

Another day with record breaking rainfall recorded and another stormy week on the way. The last couple of Decembers were mild with lots of walks when Kelle visited. She is currently in Santa Barbara with friends and walking weather. Her visits helped with seasonal depression as she brightened up the darkest week in the year. Today I will get out for errands. Dog food run and dog walk at Home Depot. Nice of them to allow us to walk there.

Day 295

Two good walks yesterday. Bills paid, errands done. Megan brought another load of stuff to her home. She had finals yesterday and hopes she did well. More rain and wind now and into next week. Kelle will get her fitbit charged and on my friends screen. Today the Bar-O boys will bring their baking products to the senior center and I will buy two loaves of lemon poppy seed bread.  The paperwhite sprouts have turned from white to green already.

Day 294

Ready for Wednesday. The orchids need attention first thing this morning. I remembered paperwhite bulbs and put them in water. I hope they grow. Dr. E. said my retinas are stable and pressure is great. He wants me to keep doing what I’m doing. That is exercising, eating well, taking supplements, and keeping a positive attitude. Later, out for a walk to the post office, to pay the cell bill, and pick up a few things at the grocery store.

Day 293

Sun today. Whew! Short break but welcome. There was ice on the porch railings when I picked up the paper. I want to go outside, walk, poke around in the yard, pick lemons, and enjoy the sun although there is practically no heat now. Yesterday was busy at the senior center. I recounted the event when Kim stopped the school Christmas concert to run up the bleachers to get me to sing with him for the hallelujah chorus. I cried.

Day 292

I was uncomfortable yesterday, anxious and restless. I did get out for 12 minutes to get a brisk walk. Started raining again before I was back inside. I am chasing the dark with the string of colored lights. They help with the seasonal desire to hibernate. I’m missing the annual visit from Kelle. She has been here for the days between Christmas and New Years for 11 years. She spent her travel money on a paint job for her car.

Day 291

Unrelenting rain. Closed roads, rivers officially flooding. I did get 10K steps yesterday pacing during commercials. Reminds me of unpleasant times when flooding affected my family in 1964. I will stay inside. Not planning to go to church. El Nino is early and forceful. I can check off another indoor chore today. Megan has made two trips with  carloads of boxes full of books and kitchen things. Makes it real to see them. I’m looking forward to having her here.

Day 290

I thoroughly enjoyed puttering yesterday. I cleaned and rearranged all the bookcases, the CDs. I touched everything. New configurations of things I already have to look better, neater, and more pleasing to see. It made me feel like smiling and humming. I love my humble home. A brief opening for a walk was quickly changed by lightning and thunder that sent me scurrying for home. Maybe today the storm will give me a break. I miss being outside and walking. 

Day 289

I’m glad that I have an indoor agenda. If the clouds give me a chance, I’ll get out for a walk. If not, I’ll walk to the closet and give it the long promised attention. I have writing going on in my mind that could get on paper today. I want to rewrite the column on retirement for the church newsletter. Writing takes place a long time before I see it on paper. The creative spirit is alive and well.

Day 288

Completely cleaned the kitchen yesterday and had two walks besides. Early start to today with a thunder storm about 3:30 AM. Poor Minnie. She suffers, shakes, drools. I can offer no solace. I’m planning to go to the senior center for duty in spite of the rain and wind. Stayed home last week because of the weather and I can’t stay home every time it’s storming. Winter is just getting started. Had good conversations yesterday. Connecting with friends is important.

Day 287

Another day when I will keep an eye outside for a break to take a walk. I’m addicted to walking and have to have it. Maybe it’s time to buy a treadmill. I could walk any old time. The massage yesterday was wonderful. Karen used hot rocks on my back and shoulders. I could hardly wait for bedtime and slept through without moving. I have a list of promised activities for a wet day. Closets and kitchen cupboards are waiting.

day 286

All errands and walks completed yesterday and I was very wet in the process. Today I will go out again. Can’t stay inside simply because it’s wet and windy. The board of supervisors meet this morning. I will be there. Later I will go to Karen for a massage. The senior center was lively yesterday. I like being there when it’s friendly and fun. Spent some time writing in my journal about stress. It does help to write it down.

Day 285

More weather. It is December after all. I’ll get a walk this afternoon after senior center duty. I will go out in the storm. Staying home is too easy and I miss conversation. I’ll get the dog licenses renewed on the way to the center and I will collect information for the guy at the Surf and take that this afternoon. I like to keep current on errands and bills. The lentil soup pot is enough for today and tomorrow.

Day 284

Noisy awful night. The wind whistled and banged around making us restless. Minnie seems on edge. It’s the knocking under the porch that she thinks is the front door. Today I’ll go to church. May get a walk in the wind. Then I’ll make a pot of lentil soup with bone broth, leeks, carrots, and cabbage from the farm stand. Been avoiding the news and watching smarmy predictable Hallmark holiday movies. No stress, amateurish acting, and happy ever after endings.

Day 283

Megan brought a car load of books. She could start her own library. I love seeing her begin to move in next door. It’s windy and wet again. Both walks yesterday ended in getting wet and the chill was hard to break. Seems like my bones get cold in this weather. Takes tea and a lap full of dogs to feel deeply warm again. Today is farm stand visit. I need to fill my crispers with fresh produce. Yum Yum

Day 282

I took the easy way and stayed home. It poured and blew all day long and the pounding rain woke me early this morning. Today I will go out at least for a sashay around the grocery store. The visit with Tonda on Wednesday was uneventful. We talked and figured out that besides the migraines, I am in good shape. She compliments me for taking responsibility for my health. She says most of her patients want her to fix them.

Day 281

Weary start for today. Too much TV yesterday about the latest shooting episode. The night was noisy with gale winds turning on motion sensor lights and knocking at the door. I couldn’t get under it to really sleep. Gave up before 4AM. Today driving will be difficult and drivers will be nuts. The seagulls are walking. That’s a clue to the strength of the wind. I’m guessing the seniors will be hyper too. I remember windy days with students. Egads.

Day 280

Cold wet morning, lots of cold wind. I have an early appointment with Tonda, just for a chat and quick check-up. I don’t have any health issues to talk about. My bones ache and that is part of aging. Fortunately my walking and exercise are serving me well and keeping my mobility intact. Today my paper journal will get color. When I look at old journals, they are full of color and interest. Now, black ink and nothing but words. 

Day 279

Yesterday was busy and I was tired by 4PM. Most of the senior news was distributed and I’ll finish this morning. The wind was cold and I brought home a chill that required a cup of tea and a chair full of dogs to break. New month. New energy to fill my days well and productively. Course correction in place. I have already completed my core exercises, turned off the TV after a brief look at the news, and danced.