Discover A New World of Romance

 32 years ago, I thought I would have money when… I didn’t need to buy formula…then it was diapers…I thought for sure when I no longer had daycare expenses…. And lately, I have been thinking when Covid is over… First time at a campground in 5 months…. And while we slept, thieves went through vehicles and the only thing they took were weapons and money…luckily we had neither. But another camper told me they got his loaded pistol, other lost weapons, money, cellphones… And then we went and got fuel, $4.37 a gallon…2 days later, the same station was $4.99 a gallon.

Today, I failed to trick myself into doing stretching or strengthening, but I did walk 4.5 miles. 😊 I generally walk 10,000 steps a day, but I break the steps up into 3 walks.  Which is very easy to do, but walking all 10,000 steps at once was a little more difficult.   I did use my creative power to create dinner…I add a can of dice tomatoes into the bullet mixer with can of tomato paste - and after a minute, I had spaghetti sauce. Of course I add ground beef, onions, celery and  angel hair pasta.  And for desert I added a packet of Emergen C to no-fat Greek plain yogurt.  So, five more days to use my creativity to find ways to trick myself into strengthening and stretching.  On today’s walk I passed by white pelicans, of course it was towards the end of my walk and I was too tired to enjoy the site.

Today I am starting my class assignment over, partially because I stopped halfway through the week and because I have decided instead of creatively blogging I am going to use my super power ‘creativity’ to improve my life. I want to lose fifteen pounds, increase my strength and flexibility. I am in my 60’s, so I know exactly what to do…but knowing and doing are two different things. And I am lazy. So, I am going to use (notice I didn’t use the word attempt this shows I am fully committed to this idea) I am going to use my creativity to get what I want.  A slightly smaller and stronger version of myself. Because today is Valentine’s Day and I wanted something sweet, (like dark chocolate hearts) - but instead of buying a bag of candy. I bought a box of Larabars, they are made with dates and nuts and of course the one I choose has chocolate chips and are 250 calories or 8 WW points…not a great creative choice because Dove dark chocolate hearts have 150 calories for 4 hearts or 8 WW po...

 Labels aren’t for lazy people.  I am lazy so I like to generalize.  Below are pictures of birds I have taken at the NWR where I volunteer.  Some people study the birds shape, size and habits in order to label them with their correct or even scientific name.   Whereas, I too see color, shaper, size and habits, but instead of placing them in a category, wading bird, shore bird-I take the lazy approach.  They are all birds.

 I am a volunteer and today I answered the phone and a woman said, “There is a manatee dead on the beach.” I said, “call CROW.” She said, “The manatee is dead, not injured.” CROW is a clinic for rehabilitation of wildlife, but she did dial a National Wildlife  Refuge. Not a National Dead Life Refuge…so, this is a classic example of calling the kettle black.

There is no creative way to do 7 loads of laundry.  My husband has a severe reaction to poison ivy.  In less than a year he has had to go on steroids, three times.   So, just in case we have  an  oil  called urushiol on any of the bedding, clothes, dog beds, blanket, or dog.  I washed everything in our trailer.   To use my super power to solve the problem of living on an island with an abundance of poison ivy, I created a vision board and I checked to see where we were on the waitlist for housing.   We applied to three places,,,number 30, 27 and still waiting to hear back.    

 I am taking a happiness course from  (coursera.org) Presented by  Laurie Santos, ‘ The Science of Well-Being’ The homework suggest you try and use one of your top 5 strengths everyday.  And they gave the following suggestion for creativity. ‘For example, you might write a blog post that is unique because it is entirely gibberish. That’s not going to be useful, so it would not be considered creative” So, I am going to use my “ Judgment.” And apply the VIA Institute on Characters definition.   “ Thinking things through and examining them from all sides; not jumping to conclusions, being able to change one’s mind in light of evidence, weighing all evidence fairly.” A blog written all gibberish might be useful to someone who wants to blog, but is not confident.  The run across said, ‘gibberish blog’ and think, if someone can publish a blog all in gibberish, maybe I can blog. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.  The author believes creativity has to benefi...

 When I tell people, “ I’m lazy .” They always respond, “No, you’re not.” Yes. I am lazy and it’s okay.  I am not a slob, unhealthy, or a burden to society.  I am lazy .  I am taking a happiness course and went to the VIA strength questionnaire and they didn’t list ‘ Lazy ’ as one of my strengths - but they should have…if you read through my top 5 strengths you will see they support my statement.   I am lazy. 1. Creativity .    I have no problem thinking of novel ways to avoid doing housework and a 40 hour a work week. 2. Love of Learning .  Which is one of my novel ways to avoid doing housework, exercising or any of those things ‘non-lazy’ people do.  So, this is the real reason behind taking a happiness course. 3. Judgment .  I don’t spend energy judging. I am a firm believer in - you do you- as long as your actions don’t leave anyone dead at the end of the day.   4. Forgiveness .  I am a forgiving person, because I am la...

  Suddenly 62. My teeth have grayed. My skin wrinkled. My muscle churned to fat.   My regret, unfortunately it isn’t that I exercised more, it’s that I no longer write.

Today January 12, 2019.  A number of people were posting look how I aged.  The included their first profile pic and their last on facebook. So, I will include a pic from my first blog post and my last blog post.  Although the newest pic will be from my other site...RVWife.com I switched from blogger to wordpress because I had high hopes of writing about my experiences as a full-timer RVer, workamper and volunteer and had heard or read that wordpress was a friendlier format for professionals. I’m not sure if it was the format of wordpress or my own personal expectations...but I am not having as much fun blogging.  I believe I am 47 or 48. And this is me at 59 3/4 When I look at the two pictures the first thing I think is...it’s a good thing I can write, because I am not very good at taking photos. 

A year ago, we left Waukee IA with everything we owned packed in the back of our truck...   And now we are packing up our truck once again and leaving Rockaway Beach, OR...It seems we really didn't need everything ... and we donated or sold things along our way... And of course we also purchased new things...like a 24' camper.

When my son was four, I told him. “Five more minutes.” “Who’s minutes?” He asked. As I stood at the kitchen sink, with warm suds dripping from my fingertips, I explained. “Everyone’s minutes are the same. They all have 60 seconds…” “No,” he muttered. “They are not the same.” “Time is the same. Everyone has twenty-four hours in a day--” His head shook his little tow head. “No. They’re not. When you say, ‘five minutes before bed.’ Those are my minutes and they’re fast. And when you say, ‘I’ll be there in five minutes.’ Those are your slow minutes. Who’s minutes mine or yours’s?” When I look back, I am beginning to think he was right. The only way I could have possible managed to raise two children, work full-time, maintain a house, attend numerous activities and write was I had slow minutes.  Now I’m 56 and retired,  people say, "what do you do all day?" "I walk the dog, do up a few dishes, sometimes write." They look at me like my son d...

I silently chanted, ears over hips, hips over heels, shoulders down and back as I walked the beach with the sun shinning and the temperatures nearing 50.   As the sand crunched beneath my hiking boots, my body elongated and I stood taller with each step.  Which could only mean my poor posture is a result of a colder climate (MN & WI) wind (IA) and lack of sun. When the temperatures dip below 40 degrees (with or without a wind chill factors) my shoulders hike high enough to keep my earlobes warm. After 50 plus years of living in Minnesota and trying to acclimate my body to cold/frigid temperatures, my body caved in, literally.  My shoulders, back and neck are rounded.  This was survival and my body's way to protect my heart from freezing. I know there are Minnesotans who drive with their convertible tops down year round, wear shorts and sun bath when temperatures rise above freezing.  But, I was never one of them. I didn’t disc...

As forgiving as a woman in love - is the attitude I have adopted for losing 20 pounds and writing a NYT Best Seller. A woman in love only sees what she wants to see, which means, I had a very successful week.  One night instead of microwave popcorn, I made a large bowl of air popped popcorn and used a packet of TrueLime for seasoning. Am I awesome, or what. Besides demonstrating self control, I showed I am capable of change. I also did two sets of arm exercises with an 8 pound bar.  Bring out the balloons and the party horns, things are getting better every day. I already forgot about the free samples of candy at Costco,  the two glasses of IPA at the bar, and the Pinot Noir. Never mind the naysayers. I know this time will be different. I will be in the 20 percent of people who manage to lose weight and keep it off. And this week I will also add bladder control exercises because when I get to the nursing home, I don’t want to wear absorbent unde...

My fitbit app recorded 109,000 steps, my fitness pal app congratulated me for recording my food intake,  my vision board greeted me every time I opened my refrigerator door, I used positive affirmations, worked on posture with a  posture zone app and I gained 4/10 of a pound.   I am now up 1.4 lbs since January 1, 2016.  Which would be great, if my goal was to gain weight.  In the past, PTTF, (prior to turning fifty) dieting and exercise were easy.  All I had to do was eat less and exercise and I'd lose weight.  PTTF, I had a Diet Muse.  She presided over my spoon and fork stopping my forward progress, 'y ou're full. You don't crave or want any more to eat  or drink .'  How I feel looking at the scale. She'd whisper in my ear in the wee hours of the morning,  ' get up so you have time to exercise before work.' Why, oh why, did my Diet Muse desert me now?  Maybe this week I will look for an ap...

When my children were young and fighting I would step in and required them to say 5 nice things about their sibling.  I decided to apply this same principle to myself. When I start to criticize myself for consuming too many calories, giving in to late night craving, not getting enough exercise or failing to write daily instead of telling myself I lack willpower, motivation, I’m lazy, not driven, etc., I am going to force myself to say 5 nice things about myself. Balance. I’ve been standing on one foot while I brushing my teeth.   this increases balance and engages my core muscles. (The therapists in skilled nursing facilities give balance tests to residents to determine their level of independence - and I plan to ace the test.) Re-boot, when walking, I’ve been self correcting my posture. When I start to lead with my forehead, I pull my head back and pull my shoulders away from my ear lobs, I tighten my butt and tummy so no longer look like a chubby toddler o...

"There is no reason why...You can't be safe," my mom would say to my children as they climbed on tables and the back of the sofa. So, this year I am saying to myself. There is no reason why.. I can't be fit and healthy. Of course, I can come up with a lot of excuses for giving into late night cravings: Hormones - this worked when I was younger, too many hormones and now that I'm older, not enough hormones. Cravings - I have no willpower. Metabolism - My metabolism has slowed down. I  don't eat half as much as I use to and I am gaining weight. Emotional Support - I am bored, tired, anxious, happy, sad, etc. The good thing is I am in the majority. In 2011-2012  the Center for Disease and Control stated the percentage of overweight adults, including obesity is 69%. So, the first week of having my vision board has not cured my cravings, increased my willpower or sped up my metabolism. But, what has changed is I am working on posture, balance and ...

My motivation isn't to look like the past -  It's to change the future... Twenty years from now, I don't want is to be squirming in bed with my thumb continuously pressing the call light, wondering if staff will come before I pee the sheets. I am not a patient person. I won't wait for help. The nursing home staff will catch me ambulating unattended. They'll put alarms on my bed and on my chair and every time I try and get up the bells and whistles will go off... This is not a good vision. I prefer to imagine myself wearing a blue plaid housedress with pockets stuffed with tissues, flask and ciggerettes and joining others on field trips to casinos, shopping malls, light houses, plays and ... So, I am not going to think of my journey as a diet or a fitness program. I am going to think of this as prevention, creating good practices and correcting some less desirable habits My plan for the future does not include a long term care policies......

2016 A Year of Vision and Luck  Besides a Rainbow in my backyard the universe has been giving me signs. Let me back track… When I worked for CenterPointe Energy in Leak Detection (2002-2007)  I had a Vision Board. We also had a Vision Board in Robbinsdale, La Crosse and Waukee, IA. Now when we packed the truck to head west - the Vision Board didn’t make the cut. So, then the Universe sent me a message on creating another board by way of an invitation from a woman in Rockaway Beach who has invited people to come and make a Vision Board or to color. While looking for photos of my Vision Boards I ran across a couple of old emails. Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 5:40 PM I wrote my wish was…. living life with no fear and no regrets... Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 8:45 AM Subject: Decided to create a 5 year plan.. . My Five Year Plan…. At 55, I’m going to sell my house, quit my job and rent a place on one of the Hawaiian Islands for a year and try to make a...

What if.. Do you ever wonder where you'd be if you made different choices. For 27 years, I worked for CenterPointe Energy and one day my boss said, "You're not happy here. You should quit." And I did. Four years later my daughter said, "you're not happy working in an office, you should be come an occupational therapy assistant." So, I quit my job at the City of Golden Valley, sold my house, moved in with Rich in La Crosse, WI.  and became a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I worked with children with Autism in La Crosse, until I received an email with an job offer in Waukee, IA.  I worked for over a year in a skilled nursing facility until Rich said, "I'm not happy in Iowa. We should move to the coast and you should write." So, we did. 2016 is all about writing. I have been writing my whole life. I love writing, it makes me very happy. I have previously dabbled with writing and have had success with getting publi...