Miscellaneous Toiletries

I have shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion and bars of soap from my last two trips. I also have regular size items that were given to me. Everything I use is unscented so I don't use any of these and they just take up room. So I've started a box for the battered woman’s shelter and put the word out to my friends to look in their closets too. We can get a box off before Christmas. We used to do this when I worked. Everyone who traveled brought these home and we would send off a box a couple times a year. The hotels encourage it, the women appreciate it – a win/win situation.  and...  it makes me feel good..... 

Early morning activity

It always amazes me when I look at the clock and see that a couple hours have gone by and I wasn't even aware of the time. I get up early, have a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. During that time, I often find some other tasks to accomplish. Today I found myself sorting through clothes trying to decide if I should try on some of the winter things or just pack them up for Good Will. Of course that meant getting dressed. Now it is time to get undressed to take my shower. Two hours have just slid by.

I also read a couple chapters in a book, dressed the bed, loaded the dishwasher with the many glasses I seem to use every day, sorted the laundry, and just wandered around trying to decide what needed to be done to get ready for winter ( change out couch pillows, hang heavier curtains on the east windows, put out afghans, decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving) and what can wait. Of course I pulled out the ladder and got down the decorations as that seemed to be a priority. I've answered a couple emails, perused Facebook and proofread an article sent by a friend on line to be sure I didn't miss something after proofing late into last night. Then I decided to write this blog while it was fresh in my mind.

Each day seems to be the same. I get up early and by noon find that I haven't really accomplished much or even what I had planned. Yet I have been busy the entire time. I call it “puttering”. My family calls it “lack of focus”.

I consider this the joy of being retired. I don't have a time schedule. I don't have “to do's” that must be accomplished at a certain time or in a certain amount of time. I can drop whatever I'm doing and have lunch with a friend or just go outside for a walk in the fresh air. Whatever I'm doing at the moment can be interrupted. I have the time to enjoy the day. This is living!!!

Ring on the counter

There was a  ring on my granite countertop last night.  It was left by a coffee cup.  No matter how many times I wiped over it, it was still there.  But it seemed to fade just a bit.  Then I remembered that this is stone and surface marks often disappear after a good rain.  So I put a wet dishrag over the area overnight.  Voila - no ring this morning.  Now I have to remember to remove all ring makers before they have a chance to leave their mark.

I AM AN OPTIMIST !

I hate when people say, "you know what's wrong with you?" and then proceed to tell me.  I AM AN OPTIMIST!!!  I get up every morning expecting to have a day filled with opportunity.  I know people will be kind and courteous.  I trust that I will hear only the truth.  I expect that wherever I go or whatever I do, I will get pleasure from part of it.  Some days I'm disappointed and often emotionally hurt.  But each day, I start over with a clean slate expecting only the best.  A friend told me that being an optimist is what's wrong with me, that I wouldn't be disappointed in people or situations if I didn't expect life to be so beautiful, that I set myself up for disappointment and failure.  She's a pessimist.  She expects nothing from people or a situation.  She gets up every day expecting nothing but to take each experience as it comes.  It it doesn't work out well, that's life.  If it works out well, it gives her pleasure.  She doesn't get emotionally involved with people or situations. She takes each day as it comes, good or bad. She is very practical in her dealing with the day, with no personal expectation or involvement.  I AM AN OPTIMIST!!!!! and that is what's good about me.

Stuff that comes in a tube

My hair gel comes in a tube.  When I think  it's completely empty, I KNOW there is still product inside that I can't get to.  So I cut the tube in sections.  Any section with product I put in a zip lock bag. I often get another 1/2 doz applications.  It definitely justifies the 2 cents for the bag.  I also do this with liquid bath soap, shampoo, anything in a container that can be cut with a scissors. Savings for me, less waste in a landfill.

Keeping a diary

A diary is a wonderful reminder of our lives and to share with generations to come.  I marvel at those who keep one.  Every year I make a resolution to do this and every year I manage about 10 entries.  Today I am cleaning out 3 years of emails (another project that always gets pushed aside).  As I'm reading them I realized that this is a beautiful diary of not only my life but of those I love. Weddings, babies, families, deaths, concerts, plays, everyday mundane tasks, jobs, volunteer work, accomplishments, politics,  hopes, dreams, heart aches - everything is there.  I have my diary.  I'll organize it into years and continue to "save" future emails.

How to stay cool when the weather is scorching hot

I don't like air conditioning.  It drys out my sinuses and gives me the chills. I use it just enough to remove the humidity, then shut it off.   So in this 90+ heat wave I was thinking about how we stayed cool at home and in school when I was growing up when there wasn't any air conditioning.

My mother was convinced that it was just mind over matter.  One of her methods was to sit or lie quietly (at bedtime) and think "cool thoughts" - ice cubes, swimming pool, snow, ice cream.  Another brilliant manuever was to get out the iron. This is such a hot job that when you stop, the air feels so much cooler.  I find myself pulling out all the pillowcases and sheets and ironing for a couple hours. Afterwards I curl up in my now cooler chair and read a book or indulge in one of my "cool thoughts" and eat some ice cream.

At school, sitting in those scratchy uniforms and listening to the nun telling us to "offer it up", we learned to move slowly, ask permission to use the washroom a gazillion time a day so you can stop at the drinking fountain, AND think those "cool thoughts".  We still had gym every day, outdoor recess, and were expected to concentrate and learn.