Older and Wiser with the Hodgepodge

Look at me, two days in a row.  Since we're staying inside (and the golf course is closed) I have plenty of time to sit here and play along with Joyce's Hodgepodge.

1. What's one thing you learned at the ripe old age of whatever age you are now?

 No is a complete sentence.   It is nice to add Thank you though.

2. I read here a list of foods that can help you look younger-
extra virgin olive oil, green tea, fatty fish, dark chocolate, vegetables, flaxseeds, pomegranates, avocados, tomatoes, spices, bone broth

How many of the foods listed have you tried? How many do you eat regularly? Your favorite from the list?

With the exception of flaxseeds, I believe I've consumed all of the above.  If I've had flaxseeds, I did so without my knowledge.  ha.  I'd say avocados are my favorite.  Can't go wrong adding avocado.  In fact, I'll add it to dinner just for color.  ha.

3. Something you miss from the 'good old days'? When were the good old days anyway?

Well, shoot.  So many things.  More of just living life and less 'living for the gram.'  Which I think most likely go hand in hand. 

When were the good old days? Pre social media, I believe.  Don't get me wrong, it's great reconnecting with people all over and from past connections but somewhere along the way it all became just toooo much. Too political, too enabling of unkindness and just too fake.

4. What are two or three of the most rewarding things to be found in growing older?

With maturity comes ease of just being yourself.  If someone doesn't like it, then so be it.  Also, you don't have to be everybody's friend.  Agree to disagree - respectfully - and get on with it.  Oh, and my answer to #1.

5. What's your favorite part of your life right now? 

In COVID life?  The Hubby being home.  Serious.  We like each other and I like having him around more than just sleeping hours.  True story.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
Well, I did it.  As positive as I am and willing to wait it out . . . This morning I finally pulled the trigger on the cancellation of condo reservations for our family Christmas and New Years (not to mention my 60th birthday) trip to Maui.  So sad.  The COVID restrictions are just to unpredictable.  We'll try again when things are 'back' to 'normal.'  Whenever that is. 

Seriously

I changed my Letterfolk board way back in March.  I have not found a reason to change it since then. 

Yes, it's the 14th. Quite honestly, I lost the whole weekend.  Lost to wild fires and smoke.  Plus the Hubby literally worked non stop on a deal that quite honestly, I am tired of over hearing about.  Just sayin'  If I were in charge of said deal, I'd be all in their faces telling them to get their acts together, stop being so gosh darn greedy difficult and sign already.  Alas, I am not in charge.  Obviously. 

So.  Let's talk about the wild fires raging in our beautiful State.  Not only are they vicious, they are D#*n close!  We actually were put into a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Zone.  What?!  Although, firefighter nephew Drew told his mama that some crazy s*#t would  have to happen for it to reach her and us.  But quite honestly, this whole year has been some crazy s*#t so there's that.  Ugh. Sister Julie (She's my sister, not a a nun,) Niece Mollie, her family and Mom/Nana were in Level 2 (Be Set) zone. Oh my.  Never have I ever.  Bestie Tami was in Level 3 (GO!) So they all evacuated their homes. Mom/Nana came here to the Hubby and I.  Julie and hers went to the Coast for hopefully some better air.  

Let's talk about being told you must leave your home.  Not only that but that you must leave your home with the knowledge that you could very well not come back to said home.  What would you pack?  How do you prioritize? Crazy, right? I can tell you that Mom/Nana brought the bare essentials, her jewelry, a few 'treasures' and snacks.  haha.  I guess she thought we wouldn't have good snacks.  

Let's talk about the air.  Or lack thereof.  This was last week just as the fires were getting out of control. We could actually see the glow of the flames at night.  Super scary. 

 

This was last Tuesday just as the fire started (see the smoke plume) and the last time we saw blue sky.

 I watched as the smoke took over and the mountain disappeared . . .

 

 Just as the fires were getting going we had the most incredible wind storm.  Timing much? I know I've always said I don't believe in coincidences but in this instance I just can't believe the Almighty Above would send this extreme of a 'message.'  At least not our way.  

Now, it pretty much looks like this all the time. 

We can't open windows and if you must go out, it's a quick open and shut of doors.  Apparently our air is the worst in the world.  THE WORLD.  Can you even imagine?!  I couldn't either.  Until now.  {sigh} Schools (non-virtual,) restaurants (that were already limited to outdoor seating due to COVID,) and some fast food restaurants in the area were closed due to hazardous air conditions.  Needless to say, the golf course is also closed.  Duh

So here we are.    We are staying in the house.  It's a rerun of the first days of the pandemic shut down.  {sigh}  Mom/Nana went back to her home yesterday as the evacuations have eased some and she is now in Level 1 zone.  She is leaving the treasures packed just in case, but is most likely out of harms way. 

Completely inconsequential but news in our little world, just as the fires and smoke descended upon the valley of Happiness, we got our new deck furniture delivered. Psh.  Timing again, right? Yep, new deck furniture which included a fire pit table.  I'd roll my eyes here but . . . you can't see me.  

So now we are actually praying the forecasted rain does in fact arrive. We NEED it, for the sake of the firefighters and to help clear some of this smoke away.  We can usually count on perfectly lovely September weather.  Seriously, my favorite month for weather around here.  Not this year.  Of course, not this year. We may never sit on the new deck furniture this summer but that's okay.  I'll give up the comfy, Indian summer on the deck for the fires to be put out and smoke to go away.  

 Seriously.

SSS...September

Here we are again, another month gone by.  Where do the days go anyway?  You'd think with the COVID and no place to go, I'd be here more than once or twice a month.  Alas . . . I am not.  Obviously. What 'they' say is so true ... the busier you are the more you get done.  I am not busy.  Therefore, I get nothing done.  Or, I put things off because I can.  It seems as if I am busy enough.  Hmm . . .   

Anyway, I've been golfing.  The Hubby would say I golf 5 days a week.  Psh.  Well, okay, I might if you count the weekends too.  ha.  I typically golf 18 holes on Tuesday with fellow 9 hole ladies.  I know, we're slowly working on doing 18 holes to increase our stamina.  I'm still of the belief that 14 holes would be a good number.  Y'all are aware that walking 18 holes is a good 6+ miles right?  Thursdays are all day clinics or matches which I don't consider actually golfing.  Then the Hubby and I will golf Friday late afternoon/evening and usually again on Sunday.  On a rare weekend, we may or may not have gone out on Saturday also. So I guess you could say 5 times a week.  Sometimes.  

That's pretty much what I've been up to.  Some weeks I'll add in hair/nails and then the regular household chores and that's the extent of my life these days.

Wait, I take that back.  We did get to the Homestead for a week.  It was a week of just hanging out, fishing, sitting riverside or on the porch and eating in between. Mostly eating and reading for me.

That is, most of us spent the week that way.  The Hubby and Kallie were the exception and worked a lot but it is what it is.  They were in residence so that was good.  Sadly, but realistically, the 20th century has imposed itself upon the Homestead in the form of Internet connections.  Eh.  It's a necessary evil.  The good thing is the Hubby can now work from there.  The bad thing is that he can now work from there.  Oh well.  It was good while it lasted.  He was really good about checking out as much as he could so there's that. If we didn't have said internet connection, he and Kallie and Ryan would not have been able to even go, so I'll deal with it.

All the kiddos made it and we even had G's parents join us for the week.

I'm thinking it will be an annual tradition.

Last week, I did go with Mom/Nana and sisters Julie and Debbie (my sisters, not nuns) to visit our Great Aunt, Nina.  We celebrated her 97th birthday! She is as spry as ever still too.

Other than that, nothing much happening here.  Oh wait, we did get a new mattress delivered yesterday. It was time for a new one.  Mattress shopping is weird, isn't it?  We ended up with a Hybrid and the platform thingy that lifts the head and feet.  It'll be interesting anyway. 

How's everyone doing with the whole mask thing?  I, for one, have found myself getting quite used to them.  I don't enjoy them but I'm used to it. 

My stack in the car . . .

I have to have options.  You know, depending on what I'm wearing.  Doesn't everyone coordinate?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Looky here, 2 days in a row!  What's gotten into me? I'd forgotten how much I dislike the new Blogger formatting.  That could be one reason I find it so hard to post lately.  Eh.  So if something is wonky, you can blame blogger and not the user.

Anyway, I thought I may as well do the Hodgepodge while I was sitting here.  Thanks Joyce  for giving me a reason to try to get used to the new format.

1.  What's happening where you live in terms of schools opening? How do you feel about it?

I don't think anything is set in stone yet but I think the powers that be are talking about delaying going into the schools until mid-October.  Don't quote me on that though. 

I have mixed feelings about it.  It doesn't effect me/us directly but having a teacher in the family does make it more personal.  As far as she is concerned - she is worried about going back and being exposed yet also worried about how she's supposed to teach 20 little people virtually or even back in the classroom with all the social distancing rules in place.  I mean, how do you teach 1st graders without getting up close and personal?  It's a conundrum for sure. 

I feel for her and I feel for the parents of all these Littles that need to work and yet have to facilitate their kids education while working.  No easy/good answer, that's for sure.

2. What's something you still do 'old school'?

I use a paper planner/calendar.  I make lists on paper with a pencil.  I iron.

3. August 4th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Will you/did you celebrate by baking a batch? Eating a batch? Nuts or no nuts? Homemade or store bought? Soft and chewy or do you prefer your cookie to snap when you bite into it?

Nope, I do not bake cookies.  I haven't baked cookies since 1983 ish.  ha.  There's a story there. You knew there was, didn't you?  I'm not a huge cookie fan but I can be tempted, particularly if it's a snicker doodle or oatmeal raisin and it must be chewy.   Chocolate chip is a close 3rd if it's warmed up with ice cream. 

4. What are you starved for?

I was going to say not much but quite honestly I do think I could use some dining out or social events with friends.  Also, going to Mass.  Putting on a cute summer dress and going out.  Basically, normal life.

5. Anything new and interesting on your August calendar? What is one thing you're looking forward to this month?

Nothing new on the calendar for August except our trip to the Homestead later in the month. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of normal and starving . . . I have had to do some returns - stuff ordered online since March! So I decided to do that this morning and I went to the Mall.  I have not been in a Mall since probably early February.  I have to admit, I really haven't missed it.  Today though, it did feel a bit normal to walk through it.  That said, I did get my errands done quickly and got out.  No browsing for this girl. Not normal times call for not normal behavior.  ha.