Old Age Day by Day August 30, 2011

I watched two Antique Roadshows last night, appropriate, I know, given my own age. I was antsy. I didn't want to read my book, I had called everyone already, my husband was at his old lab finishing up something. The beauty of it is, no commercials. Thus the dogs and I were able to prevail. As usual, stuff that looked like junk was valuable, gorgeous vases were practically worthless, there was a Confederate Flag and a Winchester rifle. I guess there will never be an end to war memorabilia, but I fail to see the allure. Rugs and furniture seem to not be valuable, no matter how old. I think that's the category I'm in. However, often Native American crafts are super valuable. The guy with the Winchester rifle which he had been told was in a battle with Custer, was not the right kind of rifle, but a beaded pony bag, was the real treasure, more than thirty times so. It was soft deerskin, with beaded plants in black, white and pumpkin colors, not all over beaded, just enough to be elegant and evocative of the plains. I was rooting for art over artillery, and for once, it prevailed.

A couple of more hours before my granddaughter arrives. I'm excited. I slept very poorly last night. I have her dress up box all set: firefighter, fairy, chef, doctor, scarves, pearls, picture hats. Let the games begin!

Old Age Day by Day August 29, 2011

Last day before El Tornado arrives. I've gotten down the little table and chairs, play food, playmobil, dolls, books and dress up clothes. A couple of stops for items and I'm set. She's arriving in an RV, so I bet she will want to stay with mom instead of our old boring house. She asked me on the phone yesterday what we were going to do, and I listed a bunch of things to which she said, we already did that. Oh, well. I'm sure we're going to keep her busy. My friend emailed that I'd better take my vitamins. True enough!

In the meantime, I'll enjoy the weather, the anticipation, the ways to get her on a train ride. Though to judge by last time, fairy bandaids are as dazzling as any trip. And walking the dogs and seeing my foster granddaughter are high up on the list as well. She's happy bungling in our back yard, and making the deck into a boat and the tiny bridge into an adventure. And I am delighted just watching.

Old Age Day by Day August 28, 2011

You know the expression, "my eyes are bigger than my stomach"? I feel full, real full, overeating type full. I had two Belgian ales Friday night and way too much food at a Spanish restaurant, then ate too much at Study Group, then had fried chicken last night. So what did I do this morning? Made scrambled eggs, sausage (veggie, but still) and biscuits. At least I stopped after one biscuit, but that was to eat a bunch of cherries. Now I don't feel so good, again! This, I know, is called gluttony, but I'm sure I can calm down, and get back to moderation. Well, I'm almost sure.

It's a beautiful day, so hopefully I'll move my body enough to work off a very overendulgent weekend. But first, Target and a grocery store, and then maybe I'll be exhausted from shopping, and who knows, I may need a nap, and after all, our granddaughter is coming tomorrow and we should rest up for the little tornado.

As you can see, my will power is in short supply.

Old Age Day by Day August 27, 2011

I have had a busy twenty four hours. We were spending our last time with our Irish "son" for this visit, and then I had a study group and meeting after which lasted five hours. I got little sleep last night so I'm going to snuggle down with a book in a minute and doze. I'm an excellent dozer. I get my sleeping abilities from my Dad, who could sleep anywhere, any time. And I'm a believer in naps. It's how I made it through college, and small children and now old age. I love my pillow, my bed, the chaise lounge in the sunroom, and my many cosy spots. I'm catlike in that way. Of course, my dogs sleep about 23 out of 24 hours, so I could say doglike. And they love to nap with me on the bed. Excuse me, I feel a rest time coming on.

Old Age Day by Day August 26, 2011

I finished "Room" yesterday. It was very disturbing and hard to read, but super well written. And the subject couldn't be more important. Because women are held like this all over the world. But more than a book about captivity, it is a book about motherhood and how tenacious our love can be. We won't give up, we don't, and we do so much more than survive. That love is absolute. I don't want to give away any plot, because I think everyone should read it. It's not a perfect book, but it gets hold of you and tugs.

Today I'm having lunch and dinner out. Lunch with our older son and his half brother, whom we adore, dinner with them and also our younger daughter and son. Tomorrow our Irish son leaves. I will miss him. It is so rare we're all together, but for a brief moment, at the cabin, we were. It makes for great memories.

My husband and I walked over to see "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" at our local theater. I'd already seen it, but was happy to see it again. The cave drawings are so beautiful, and the world it reveals so mesmerizing. My husband liked it as well. It feels so weird to be able to see a movie in the middle of the day. This retirement thing is strange.

Old Age Day by Day August 25, 2011

This morning is gloomy, but I shall persevere. I'm walking to lunch with a friend, and maybe going to a movie. I will see how the day unfolds. Tomorrow is super busy, so I could take it easy, but I got myself a little bored last night so perhaps I will feel better getting out more. I finished two really good books in the last couple of days. One was "Zulu", a South African mystery that is beautifully written. The other was Lisa Unger's new mystery. Now I am reading a book recommended by a friend, "Room" by an Irish writer, Donohue. It was short listed for the Booker. So far, so good.

I like the way mysteries pull me in and keep me focused, and the dark world they portray reminds me of my own dark side, which I am usually uncomfortable acknowledging. But some of the best writing today truly is in this genre, and with mysteries set in other countries, I get an easy to swallow dose of history and culture. I'm most attached to Irish writing, as I have relatives there. But Zulu was an eye opener about South Africa today. It was heartbreaking, but important to read.

I once tried to write a mystery myself, but I need another rewrite, I think. I almost got it taken by the Ellen Levine Agency, and I should have pursued it further. I think I see how to fix it. It was about a single woman with a house painting business, who decides to answer an ad for a nanny for three little girls. They live in a glass house in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado, and strange things begin to happen. It was great fun to write. I don't have enough perseverance, that's my problem. Well, that, and that I have no great skill as a writer. Oh, dear.

Old Age Day by Day August 24, 2011

Another great sunny day. But a strange one yesterday. Earthquakes on the East Coast! Now that is weird. I remember when we were camping in Colorado many years ago, and we came upon this marker that said a campground had been on the site and in 1958 the campground was destroyed and people killed by an earthquake. I'd thought such things only happened on the West Coast. Our national unease right now seems to be reflected in our landscape.

Last night I had a dream, probably influenced by the quake, that a dark swarm of clouds was overhead, with lightening and swirling tornadoes agitating the sky, and we all knew that something apocalyptic was afoot. I woke up, thinking the dream was a bit like War of the Worlds or one of those movies that I love to watch. What I like about those movies is that the human race comes together for one purpose, and it is not to destroy each other. Of course, it usually means annilating a visitor species, but at least we recognize finally that we are all in this enterprise together. And it's crystal clear that only an invasion from outer space can accomplish this amazingly obvious revelation.

So today, I'll be watching carefully to see if there are any signs. Maybe even wear an aluminum foil hat, so alien species can't read my mind. Of course, why anyone would care to, I've no idea. I bore myself silly, and I should think I'd have the major interest in my thinking. But no, I prefer to read others' thoughts in books or on the screen. My goofy brain is hardly fit for profundity. But it suits me, and it's all I've got!