Thoughts on Turning (almost) 52

My first thought is WTF?

I was born on August 30, 1955 to Bob and Margo, a career Air Force man and his lovely wife. When you think of the 50's images of Levittown, the Cleavers and I Love Lucy come to mind. An idyllic innocent time of hula hoops, Davy Crockett coonskin caps, and roller skates that would fall off your ankles at the most inopportune times.

I am from the generation that coined the phrase "Don't trust anyone over 30."

Oops, we're all waaaay over 30 now!

So, I was thinking about the pros and cons of getting older. We'll start with the good things-and no, not Martha Stewart good things.
I will qualify for the senior discount at Denny's in a few years.
I really do not care anymore about my weight.
I don't care about fashion anymore, comfort is my main objective when choosing clothing and shoes.
I don't care what people think about me anymore.
I don't have to go to school.
I don't have to worry about attracting a man, because if I didn't already have one, I wouldn't really want one anymore.
I don't have to buy tampons anymore.

Now some cons-no not Martha Stewart the ex-con.
I don't much like the food at Dennys
Not caring about my weight anymore means cottage cheese thighs and jelly belly.
Fashion? I'm too old to wear cute trendy clothes.
I don't care what people think about me anymore.
I don't have to go to school.
I'm old and couldn't attract a man any way.
I don't have to buy tampons anymore but have to go in for a colonoscopy.

Now, is anymore one word or two? Anymore-any more. I think it may be two words, so please excuse my spelling-remember I don't have to go to school any more or anymore.

Enjoying The Sunshine

I happened to catch all three kittens relaxing in the sun shining in the sliding glass door. They're getting independent of each other now, so it's hard to catch them when they are all together and not tearing through the house.

Pig In A Blanket

Remember those gourmet delights mom used to make for dinner back in the 60's ? You know, where you take a hot dog-the cheaper the better-cut a slit in it, stuff it with velveeta cheese , pop open a can of peel and eat 'croissants', roll the hot dog up in the croissant, bake, and wow! that's some good eating?
Well, when I looked down and saw Bear stuffing herself into the kittens expensive play condo, that's the first thing that popped into my mind. Pigs in a blanket!

Custom Orders and Procrastination

Procrastination. Why are so many of us afflicted with this disease? Why do something today that you can put off until tomorrow, or next week even? I think the worst procrastination moment is the one where you are supposed to call the dentist to make an appointment for your checkup. Now, is there anyone in the world who enjoys going to the dentist and looks forward to those every 6 months checkups? I don't think so! So, we pick up the phone, start to dial, then, no, I'll call them tomorrow, they're probably busy and I'll get put on hold right now, and before you know it, weeks have gone by and still no dentist appointment.
Now, I love to make things. I love it so much that it is now my full-time job to make things. So, why do I procrastinate when I have a special order that needs to be filled, and filled soon? I have a big order that will bring me a nice paycheck, but for some reason I keep finding other things that I need to do instead of working on that order. In fact, I'm writing this while I should be working on that order. Is it because when it's a special order it becomes real work instead of fun? I think it goes back to childhood days when homework or report writing loomed over our heads. I remember playing school with my sisters, but when it came to real school who wants to go there? I've always loved to read, but having to read a book and writing a report on it took all the pleasure away.
Or, am I just completely lazy? That might be it.

Napping Bear

Is this the roundest cat you have ever seen? This is Bear, she is about 2 years old and was a 'rescue' kitty from our back yard. Her body shape reminds me of a manatee, little head and big round middle. She is rather lazy and naps a lot. Sometimes she doesn't feel like standing at the food bowl, so she will lay beside it and delicately scoop kibbles out with her paw like she is just too weak from hunger to be able to get up off the floor.

Oh My Good God I Am So @$%&^*(# Out Of Shape!

Now, I used to be pretty active when I lived on the coast in Ventura CA. Nice cool ocean breezes and a bike path along the beach are pretty conducive to getting a little exercise now and then. Since moving to hot smoggy Bakersfield 4 years ago, it's been really hard to get up and going. Personally, I think there is something in the water here that turns people into lazy SUV driving slobs. Not to mention that if you do decide to walk or bike somewhere you might as well paint a huge bullseye on your back because you turn into game ready to be hunted down by those SUV driving slobs. Seriously, you take your life into your hand just trying to cross the street here. In the crosswalk. Where drivers are supposed to stop and let you cross the street.
So, anyway, this morning my husband is leaving for work and comes back in to say he is taking my car because he has a flat tire. So, okay, the only place I need to go is the little postal annex and wal-mart for more kitten milk, both of which are only 1/2 mile away. I'll ride the bike, I think to myself. So, after digging the bike out of the garage, which is life threatening in itself, what with all the crap we have crammed in there, I get ready to hop on, only to find not one, but two flat tires on the bike. So how long has it been since I pulled that bike out of there to go for a ride? Long enough to have a thick layer of dust and cobwebs between the spokes.
So, okay, I'll walk, it's not that far and it's only about 90 out right now, shouldn't be too bad.
Well, about half way there, I was tempted to flag down a passing motorist and beg for a ride, or call a cab except I don't have a cell phone. I did make it, got my etsy orders in the mail, went to wal-mart, got a coffee from McDonalds, got the milk for the kittens, and headed home.
I feel like I ran a marathon, and remember, wal-mart is only 1/2 mile away. Arrgghh-time to get back into some sort of shape!
So, I'm determined to start running my errands on the bike instead of driving. It does seem kind of silly to drive when it takes longer to park and get into the store than it does to drive over there.

Work In Progress

My husband has been working on fixing up the spare bedroom into my own little 'studio'.
He bought these do it yourself cabinets from Home Depot on the 'buy now on your credit card at no interest for 10 months' plan last December. The cabinets were stacked against the wall in our bedroom for, oh, about 6 months, before he started to work on them. Now, my husband is a perfectionist when it comes to home improvements, but also a procrastinator and a start now, finish it next year kind of guy, so for him to actually finish a project is really saying something. He does a great job but it does take him a looooong time.
As an example, he began to build a shed in our backyard last summer. It is still not finished, but when it is, it will withstand hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, fires, and floods. It will be the most well built garden shed in all of California. People will come from miles around to view this modern wonder of carpentry. Some day....when it's finished. Maybe in a few years...
In the meantime, the studio is almost done, just need to spackle and paint here and there and get my workbench and flooring installed, and I'll spend my days in my built from love custom studio!

Tattooed You?

When I was growing up, tattoos were for sailors, bikers, and ex-cons. Since moving to Bakersfield 4 years ago, I was ever amazed at the number of ordinary people sporting tattoos in every conceivable place on their body. Check out clerk at the grocery store? Large tattoo of a flaming skull peeking out from under her shirt sleeve. Soccer mom in her SUV? A dainty little flower on her ankle. My personal favorite is the guy who has 'Oildale' tattooed across the back of his neck. Oildale is this town's 'wrong side of the tracks' neighborhood. His welfare money probably came just in time to get that piece of artwork!
While I appreciate some of the artwork that goes into a tattoo, I just wonder what happens when some of the kids that have tattoos over large portions of their bodies do when the time comes to get out there and get a real serious money making job. Would you really want your child's kindergarten teacher to have a huge snake slithering down her forearm? How about the doctor who is going to deliver your baby? Love tattooed on one knuckle and hate on the other?
I also wonder how these tattoos will look 50 years from now, will the senior citizen in the nursing home who doesn't have a tattoo be made fun of by all the other seniors?
And not to mention the expense of a tattoo. Can't pay your rent this month, but, damn, your new tat looks really cool! My stepdaughter's car broke down and needs repairs, but first, she wants a huge new tattoo on her back. And then when she can't pay the repair bill, who will she call for a loan? Hello, Dad?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for self-expression and you can do whatever you want with your own body. I just kind of have to laugh at the non-conformists who conform so well with whatever is in style today. Just like when I was growing up in the 60's. Hey, man, all us groovy people are wearing love beads, letting our hair grow long, and wearing funky thrift store clothes. Look at what individualists we are!

Okay, enough about tattoos, more about kittens in my next post.