Negative energy deprives you of life and calm is a super power.
It’s hard to show up as your best self every day, right? And when you’re surrounded by negativity — either online or in ‘real life’ — you can easily become negative too. Being calm is easier when you cancel out the noise of all the stuff that doesn’t really matter.
Rural living is less stress — at least for me.
I don’t know what it is about living a rural life that makes me feel at peace. I don’t know if it’s because I identify with this area as “home.” Or could it be that I have feel I have fewer expectations and less demands? It might be both of those things plus more.
I don’t have traffic before and after school with a bajillion cars driving by. I loved my neighbors in Seymour, but I love having no close neighbors even more. I like sitting outside with a book and a cup of coffee without being seen by 500 people. Now that the nights are cooler, I love lying in bed with the window open listening to the crickets, cicadas and tree frogs.
Those sounds are peaceful.
It’s not for everyone – I get it!
My favorite brother would die in less than a week here. No fancy places to eat dinner nearby and no place close to see a show or gamble. I get it… I do! And that’s what makes life interesting. No one is just like you — or me. 🙂
Now you know: In 2016, the CIA accidentally left explosives in the engine of a school bus. The bus was in operation for two days, carrying kids, before the explosives were discovered by mechanics.
It’s weekend! There’s so much to do and none of it is fun stuff. The pool still isn’t closed and there’s a bajillion other home things that have to get done. Why you ask? Well, here’s why:
I’m looking forward to visiting the happiest place on earth and spending time with family. I’m not looking forward to leaving my puppies. I know they’ll be well taken care of thanks to those Pesky neighbors, but I still hate leaving them. Silly, I know. I can’t help it though. 😢
In other news, I encouraged Katie to try weight watchers and she’s already lost a pound after 2 days. Of course, soon I’ll be eating ALL the good stuff from Yak and Yeti, le Cellier, and every street vendor taco I can find. I figure if I gain back 5 pounds of what I’ve already lost that will be a win. Heck, I’d give that much for one cheeseburger egg roll.
Now you know: On average, Americans spend $1400 a year for a dog and $1200 for a cat.
My cousin, Sherry, decided to drop by with her grandbaby last night. We don’t see each other often and we really don’t have a whole lot in common. I was throwing out excuses that didn’t stick — and I’m glad they didn’t. It was good to see her!
Back in the day…
When I was young, I would sometimes stay all night at her house. As we got older, we went out together a few times… the most memorable was Phoenix Hill Tavern in Louisville. She’s changed so much since then — but haven’t we all? She still reminds me of her Mom, Irene, though. Sort of loud and very assertive.
Mom and Aunt Irene were great friends until she passed, but Sherry and I weren’t close in that way. Still, you know you can always count on family when you need them.
As we grow older, it’s good we touch base more often. Uncle Max is in a nursing home now and under hospice care. He’s confused often and is extremely grumpy. I can’t imagine how she feels when he talks mean to her — but I’m glad I could listen as she let off some steam.
I wanted to keep the baby (although I was ready for Sherry to go home)! 😉
Such a good natured little girl! She looks like her Momma (Kourtney) did when she was that age. Sherry promised they’d be over to swim soon (she better hurry as summer is almost a memory) and said she hopes my Momma will come so they can chat. Merida wants them to come back too because she wants another chance to try and steal that pacifier. 😂
Katie, the old standby was here after that.
No photos of her because she’s here LOTS. And her… I don’t have to entertain.
Now you know: Multimillionaire Maria Assunta, upon her death left her entire fortune of $13 million, all of her properties such as villas, homes, and land to her cat Tommaso, making the cat one of the world’s richest felines. Just a few years prior, Tommaso was a stray cat she found in the streets of Rome.
Be honest… how many things can you do in one day that could’ve had a better result if you’d just used your brain? My personal number for that question is… MANY!
Yesterday started out great!
My first cup of coffee after letting the dogs out at 7:00 AM was relaxing. I RARELY get up that early but the HVAC guy was to be here around 8:15. I was thinking how early mornings ain’t so bad as I took coffee #2 with me to the shower.
That’s when MANY things went bad because I didn’t use my brain. Here are just four examples…
I got in the shower and forgot to turn on the fan. The smoke alarm blared for 15 minutes scaring the dogs and almost making my ears bleed. It was still going off when the AC guy arrived 35 minutes early. I knew better.
I went car shopping with my favorite son, Ben. I’m an ugly car shopper and he’s learned from the best. There were not any cars to test drive even though websites listed them as available. He put a deposit on a new car he’s never seen or driven, and must wait who knows how long to get it. I thought we’d kill each other before we got home. I knew better!
Knowing weigh in was scheduled for today, I ate a huge portion of spaghetti from Fazolis anyway. When you’re watching carbs, that’s about as bad as it gets. I knew better!
I mowed for 1.5 hours with the push-mower from Hell. You know… the one that started this whole back/leg/hip thing I’m currently fighting. Der! I knew better.
I’m going to use my brain today! Probably. 😉
A new coil for the 2nd AC unit is waiting on a part — that is about the only bad thing that happened that wasn’t my fault. But it’s a new day! And it’s going to be amazing!
Now you know: Key West had a fire chief named Bum Farto that was convicted of drug trafficking and disappeared before his sentencing, never to be seen again.
My Pap-pa passed away just a few short months after the birth of my son, Ben, in 1982 — it will be 41 years ago this September 16th. He was only 78.
A long time ago, old people would tell me how fast time flies and how I was living the best days of my life. Now? I’m the old people! How has it been over 40 years since his passing?
I think about how Pap-pa would play rummy with me, watch TV while sitting in a straight-back dining room chair with a Chihuahua on his knee, and mow grass without a shirt (embarrassing for a young person thinking he was ancient and showing white chest hairs in public). He loved spending time at the barn around horses and took me daily. (To own a horse, I had to ride every day… through sleet and snow and pouring rain… just like a mailman.)
He loved to tease — like telling me he was going to take out his false teeth at my kindergarten graduation and yell, “That’s my granddaughter!” My family then wondered why I preferred NOT to be the center of attention. Would you? (Not to mention I thought I could die at any second because he told me I had lumpuckaroo in my bowels.)
I remember Nanny letting me set off firecrackers under pap-pa’s bed while he was sleeping. Yes, seriously. (I’m guessing this was payback for all the teasing endured.) Our family went on vacations with Nanny and Pap-pa… my brother and I riding in the back of a blue station wagon with our feet sticking out the windows.
Nanny and Pap-pa were married Aug. 3, 1930 and celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary before his death. Nanny passed at age 98 on August 26, 2009. She was in a care facility for the last of her days and she would often ask to wear her diamond rings. Afraid they would get lost (or stolen) we’d make excuses. One time, I asked why she wanted them and she snapped back like that was the dumbest question ever — she said that she wanted everyone to know she was married. Pap-pa had already been gone over 25 years by then. ❤️
If you’re reading this, please know that no matter how old you are — time does indeed fly by and you’re living the best days of your life. 🙂
Today’s brain food: Because of the continuing ongoing dispute between Canada & USA over the Machias Seal Island, anyone who is born on it is given the claim of dual citizenship of both countries.
