I bet a man invented the 3-way mirror. Oh yes, and the fluorescent lighting to go with it. No woman in her right mind would have done this to herself or her fellow female population.
I went bathing suit shopping yesterday. I dread bathing suit shopping and haven't gone in about ten years. However, my hubby and I are taking a small cruise in three weeks, so I thought maybe I should try finding a more current style. I'm certainly not looking to WOW them on board the ship...I just don't want people jumping overboard or worse yet...pointing and laughing.
I had two very dear friends go with me to keep me from slashing my wrists. I'm so glad I invited them along. They were invaluable when it came to suggestions and helping me choose the right color, style and fit. I settled on a Tankini, which I'd never even considered, but thanks to one of my friends I tried several on and actually found one that didn't make me look too awful. I'll get a full length cover-up and stay in the water most of the time and I should do fine that way.
I have a suggestion for stores selling bathing suits to the over 40 crowd. Smash those damn 3-way mirrors...we can only stand looking at one side at a time! Get rid of the unflattering fluorescent lights. We don't care if we look old, wrinkled and green in the office, but when we're trying on clothes, bras or bathing suits...we'd like to have rosy lighting and not glaring 5000 watt bulbs. If you really want to obtain our business...do what a friend of mine suggested and serve us cosmos while we shop. Who knows how much we'll spend if you get us drunk enough?
My new suit is still sitting in the bag I brought it home in. I'll try it on a few more times before we sail away...just to get semi-comfortable with the way I look in it. But you can bet your ass I won't be looking in anymore 3-way mirrors!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
SLOWING DOWN
A week or so ago I ranted about the font sizes used for directions on food products, some magazine articles and books these days. Not that the font size has changed in the past 50+ years, but my eye sight sure has. I had another reminder of that last night.
After attending a meeting for The Triangle Freelancers I was driving home around 9:45 and felt as if I was "flying" down the road. I rounded a curve on Trawick Road, surprised that my tires didn't squeal, and there was a police officer sitting on the side of the road. My heart did a flip-flop, I experienced cold chills and I quickly looked down at my speedometer. I was shocked to see it read 42 mph. The speed limit was 45. WTH? I could have sworn I was going at least 60.
Driving in the dark. Yet another sign that you are aging is when you think you're going 90 and your only clocking 40 or 50. When I was in my 20's and even 30's the only time I felt I was "flying" down the road and actually wasn't was because I'd been smoking something funny. Now it happens cause I can't see very well, so I slow down, but don't feel like I've slowed down. I could see at least 200 yards in front of my car on a straight away 20 years ago and I could see a bird lose a feather a 100 yards away. Now, I'm lucky if I see the bird before it hits my windshield.
Not that I should be complaining about not moving so fast I get a ticket, but it was truly disturbing to recognize yet another sign of getting old. I guess I'll have to save all my automobile daredevil moves for the daytime, when I can see at least 25 feet in front of my car...if I squint.
After attending a meeting for The Triangle Freelancers I was driving home around 9:45 and felt as if I was "flying" down the road. I rounded a curve on Trawick Road, surprised that my tires didn't squeal, and there was a police officer sitting on the side of the road. My heart did a flip-flop, I experienced cold chills and I quickly looked down at my speedometer. I was shocked to see it read 42 mph. The speed limit was 45. WTH? I could have sworn I was going at least 60.
Driving in the dark. Yet another sign that you are aging is when you think you're going 90 and your only clocking 40 or 50. When I was in my 20's and even 30's the only time I felt I was "flying" down the road and actually wasn't was because I'd been smoking something funny. Now it happens cause I can't see very well, so I slow down, but don't feel like I've slowed down. I could see at least 200 yards in front of my car on a straight away 20 years ago and I could see a bird lose a feather a 100 yards away. Now, I'm lucky if I see the bird before it hits my windshield.
Not that I should be complaining about not moving so fast I get a ticket, but it was truly disturbing to recognize yet another sign of getting old. I guess I'll have to save all my automobile daredevil moves for the daytime, when I can see at least 25 feet in front of my car...if I squint.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
THE DEADLY BIG "C"
For years I participated in the Relay for Life walk/run. In Shelby, NC we'd all gather at the fairgrounds and camp out overnight. In the evening there would be a band to entertain us and various people would step up to the mic and share their cancer stories. Every year one or more of those people would say, "there's not one person here who hasn't been touched by cancer in some way, whether it's yourself or a family member." At this point I always felt like an outsider,a sham...because cancer HADN'T touched me or anyone close to me in anyway. I was there to support friends and friend of friends...but I personally didn't have a clue how truly devastating cancer could be to the victim and to their loved ones.
Then 2001 arrived. My stepfather was suddenly diagnosed with lung cancer and six months later he died. I was horrified at how quickly the disease destroyed and murdered. My stepdad was already in Stage 4 when they discovered the cancer, so he really didn't have a chance of survival.
After he passed I again entered into a safe little cocoon where cancer wasn't touching my life. But a part of me had changed. A part of me was now much more aware of the horrors of this disease. When acquaintances would speak about family members suffering I was able to empathize on a whole new level.
Now 2010 has arrived and I find myself once again faced with a family member's cancer diagnosis. This time it is one of my brothers. He had surgery yesterday for what was thought to be simple nodules on his lungs, but hiding behind one of those growths was the insidious cancer. Thank God he agreed to have this initial surgery or the cancer might not have been discovered till it was way too late. He was waivering on going under the knife, because it meant they had to remove the top half of his lung. When they discovered the cancer they removed several lymph-nodes too, in order to see if the cancer has spread.
So, for now I sit and wait on those results and pray that they got to him in time. I'm hating the fact that I've become an official member of the "cancer has touched my life club". I just pray at the next Relay for Life event I'll be able to rejoice because I have a family member who's a cancer SURVIVOR!
Then 2001 arrived. My stepfather was suddenly diagnosed with lung cancer and six months later he died. I was horrified at how quickly the disease destroyed and murdered. My stepdad was already in Stage 4 when they discovered the cancer, so he really didn't have a chance of survival.
After he passed I again entered into a safe little cocoon where cancer wasn't touching my life. But a part of me had changed. A part of me was now much more aware of the horrors of this disease. When acquaintances would speak about family members suffering I was able to empathize on a whole new level.
Now 2010 has arrived and I find myself once again faced with a family member's cancer diagnosis. This time it is one of my brothers. He had surgery yesterday for what was thought to be simple nodules on his lungs, but hiding behind one of those growths was the insidious cancer. Thank God he agreed to have this initial surgery or the cancer might not have been discovered till it was way too late. He was waivering on going under the knife, because it meant they had to remove the top half of his lung. When they discovered the cancer they removed several lymph-nodes too, in order to see if the cancer has spread.
So, for now I sit and wait on those results and pray that they got to him in time. I'm hating the fact that I've become an official member of the "cancer has touched my life club". I just pray at the next Relay for Life event I'll be able to rejoice because I have a family member who's a cancer SURVIVOR!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
RAIN...HIDE
I just got caught in a downpour coming out of Kroger. I've had all day to go to the grocery store, but thought I'd wait till the sky was filled with dark clouds and I could hear the roll of thunder in the distance.
My poor dog is still shaking, although the rain and the thunder has stopped and the sun is trying to shine again. Zeus is just terrified of storms. There doesn't even have to be thunder and lightning. He quivers at the sound of water pounding on the roof. Normally he'd be hiding under our bed digging at the carpeting trying to cover himself up, I guess...or maybe just make a hole to crawl into. I have the bedroom door closed so he can't get in there.
Sometimes when there's a really bad storm I will sit in the downstairs bathroom with him or we huddle together at the top of the steps. He's definitely not a lapdog, but when he hears any loud noises he tries to be!
He's frozen right now...literally, just standing in one spot, drooling and panting. I'm going to take him out to the porch to let him see that everything is well with the world again and he can stop dripping saliva on the floor.
Gotta love him!
My poor dog is still shaking, although the rain and the thunder has stopped and the sun is trying to shine again. Zeus is just terrified of storms. There doesn't even have to be thunder and lightning. He quivers at the sound of water pounding on the roof. Normally he'd be hiding under our bed digging at the carpeting trying to cover himself up, I guess...or maybe just make a hole to crawl into. I have the bedroom door closed so he can't get in there.
Sometimes when there's a really bad storm I will sit in the downstairs bathroom with him or we huddle together at the top of the steps. He's definitely not a lapdog, but when he hears any loud noises he tries to be!
He's frozen right now...literally, just standing in one spot, drooling and panting. I'm going to take him out to the porch to let him see that everything is well with the world again and he can stop dripping saliva on the floor.
Gotta love him!
Monday, April 19, 2010
MUSIC TO MY EARS
We could use an upgraded dishwasher. I don't want to get rid of the one we have though. It's noisy and the new ones tend to be "silent". I like knowing for sure that my dishwasher is running. I like the swish, swish sound of the water moving around. I even enjoy the noise it makes when it drains. Call me crazy, but I find comfort in a lot of different sounds.
I run a "white noise" machine at night. I always push the ocean waves button. My husband hates it, but I find it just the perfect symphony to block out background noises and lull me to sleep. When we go on vacation and stay in a hotel I need to run the air all night long or turn on the bathroom exhaust fan. Again...drives the hubby nuts. But it's better to spend time with a well rested wife, than a shrew with sleep deprived bags under her eyes.
The sound of a train whistle can calm my soul almost instantly. When I was a child I remember that sound traveling up the hillside and coming into my bedroom window. I loved it. I found it comforting and reassuring. I liked to dream about the people traveling on those trains and all the wonderful places they were going to.
A baby giggling, my dog's moan as he stretches himself, a cat purring, the roar of a motorcycle engine, the crunching of autumn leaves under my feet, church bells chiming...I enjoy all these sounds. Some inspire happy memories and some just make me feel alive.
I like smells too...but that's for another day.
I run a "white noise" machine at night. I always push the ocean waves button. My husband hates it, but I find it just the perfect symphony to block out background noises and lull me to sleep. When we go on vacation and stay in a hotel I need to run the air all night long or turn on the bathroom exhaust fan. Again...drives the hubby nuts. But it's better to spend time with a well rested wife, than a shrew with sleep deprived bags under her eyes.
The sound of a train whistle can calm my soul almost instantly. When I was a child I remember that sound traveling up the hillside and coming into my bedroom window. I loved it. I found it comforting and reassuring. I liked to dream about the people traveling on those trains and all the wonderful places they were going to.
A baby giggling, my dog's moan as he stretches himself, a cat purring, the roar of a motorcycle engine, the crunching of autumn leaves under my feet, church bells chiming...I enjoy all these sounds. Some inspire happy memories and some just make me feel alive.
I like smells too...but that's for another day.
Friday, April 16, 2010
MAKING FRIENDS WITH MOTHER NATURE
Oh my aching muscles! I planted trees, bushes and flowers for the first time yesterday and even my hair follicles are screaming in pain. But...I'm happy. Go figure. I've always heard how "satisfying" digging in the dirt can be. I've heard my foliage loving friends refer to it as "therapy". A lot of hogwash I thought, until I tried it for myself yesterday.
My friends Karen and Wendy decided my yard need some TLC and staged an intervention to be sure it got some. We spent all day Tuesday...and I do mean all day from 10-6, at various nurseries around town and out of town, looking for just the right plants to put in front of my house. The best deals and largest selection we found were in Angier, at Broadwell and Old Stage Nurseries. Acre upon acre of trees and bushes to choose from. Lowest prices around. However, you need to be gardening savvy, cause there is no one to give you any help or advice. You drive through, get what you want, load it up and pay on your way out. Luckily I had my two "Mother Nature Gurus" with me, so this was no problem.
For flowering plants we hit Kmart, Lowes and Home Depot. Looking at these made me wish I'd paid more attention in 7th grade Latin class. I couldn't begin to pronounce so many of the plant names that seemed to just roll off the tongues of my companions.
Thursday we started at 8a.m. with a little more shopping and then...dirt digging. I even used a pick-axe at one point. Me...swinging a pick axe...very scary picture to many of my friends I'm sure and one of the reasons for all the moans and groans this morning.
I have to admit, when I stepped outside my front door this morning and looked at all our completed handiwork, I sighed with contentment and suddenly...I wasn't so sore anymore.
My friends Karen and Wendy decided my yard need some TLC and staged an intervention to be sure it got some. We spent all day Tuesday...and I do mean all day from 10-6, at various nurseries around town and out of town, looking for just the right plants to put in front of my house. The best deals and largest selection we found were in Angier, at Broadwell and Old Stage Nurseries. Acre upon acre of trees and bushes to choose from. Lowest prices around. However, you need to be gardening savvy, cause there is no one to give you any help or advice. You drive through, get what you want, load it up and pay on your way out. Luckily I had my two "Mother Nature Gurus" with me, so this was no problem.
For flowering plants we hit Kmart, Lowes and Home Depot. Looking at these made me wish I'd paid more attention in 7th grade Latin class. I couldn't begin to pronounce so many of the plant names that seemed to just roll off the tongues of my companions.
Thursday we started at 8a.m. with a little more shopping and then...dirt digging. I even used a pick-axe at one point. Me...swinging a pick axe...very scary picture to many of my friends I'm sure and one of the reasons for all the moans and groans this morning.
I have to admit, when I stepped outside my front door this morning and looked at all our completed handiwork, I sighed with contentment and suddenly...I wasn't so sore anymore.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
ZONING LAW
My husband, while sitting at his computer this morning, told me he was "in the zone". What exactly does that mean? Inquiring minds want to know. So of course I had to look up the word "zone". Isn't that what any good wife would do in these circumstances.
Here's what I found. Zone is actually a pretty flexible word. It is used in these areas: Geographic, Geology, Geometry, Sports, Postal delivery or time. It's used to describe specific areas or districts and there is even an "archaic" definition.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is...the next time you tell someone you are "in the zone", be more specific. Exactly what type of zone are you talking about? Perhaps even "step out of your comfort zone" when deciding what "zone" you want to be in.
Have you zoned out yet?
Here's what I found. Zone is actually a pretty flexible word. It is used in these areas: Geographic, Geology, Geometry, Sports, Postal delivery or time. It's used to describe specific areas or districts and there is even an "archaic" definition.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is...the next time you tell someone you are "in the zone", be more specific. Exactly what type of zone are you talking about? Perhaps even "step out of your comfort zone" when deciding what "zone" you want to be in.
Have you zoned out yet?
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