I'm also feeling the need to Purge a few Thought Nerfuls and Cerebral Clutterbits taking up space in my head, so I'm going to give it a rattle and see what shakes loose.
BOOBS. As in, mine are because I am Rebelling and refusing to wear a bra for the rest of the summer as of about two weeks ago. Now, to be fair, I am not Copiously Endowed, and because I am an Older Lady, mine are not, shall we say, prone to Being Bouncy. I have spent too much money on trying to find a bra that is even remotely comfortable, and yes, I was even professionally fitted. If I am wearing something sheer, I wear a cami; if I am not, then Shirt Only it is. Chances are extremely good that I continue this for all three remaining seasons and for the rest of my life, especially since I Just Don't Care.
BOOKS. I finished--with some disappointment--Parallel Lines by Edward St. Aubyn. Listen, the writing is excellent. I remain entranced and entertained by the character Sebastian, who features in the opening chapter and made me want to read this book. BUT. There were too many characters cluttering up the landscape and they weren't all different enough to make me notice. As a matter of fact, at one point I just sort of skipped lots paragraphs concerning a couple of characters AND IT MADE ZERO DIFFERENCE TO THE PLOT. And the ending made me irritated in that I put up with SO MUCH just to get to...this? Maybe your reading will be vastly different and I truly hope so. Maybe I am just a Huge Pain In The Ass about modern fiction.
However.
I am now reading Orbital by Samantha Harvey. First of all, thank you Julie for reviewing this book over at your place and for providing an excerpt. This book. This book is so achingly beautiful that when I read it, there are times that I simply have to put it down and breathe and recover myself. This morning I took it out on the patio with my coffee; the sound of my little pond waterfall was in the background, and now and then a bird would sing. As I read I would almost be overcome. What an incredible piece of literature. I feel privileged to read it.
PLANTS. My basil is a green machine. I've made so, so many jars of pesto--in total a little over two quarts so far. I put it in little jars so that it stays fresher longer. Somebunny has gotten into my parsley despite my menacing fake owl and mowed down almost an entire plant. One suspect lounges quite nonchalantly under my swing in the evenings. My catnip got a severe case of powdery mildew, so I cut it all back and took it outside. Neither Piper nor Marlowe care/d a whit about catnip in their old age (I found out), so I was basically growing catnip to give away to the grandcats (Baker and George) anyway. (Side Note: Jared and Jordan often threaten George that "Nana will come and speak sternly to you" when he misbehaves because they heard me threaten him with that ONE TIME.)
PLEASURES. It's important to make note of Small Things That Make Us Happy, and here are mine in no particular order:
Oooh a closet purge! So satisfying. I have a big bag I need to get to the donation centre soon.
ReplyDeleteOkay, boobs. I wear a bra - or a tank with a shelf bra - all the time, EVEN TO BED. I am not a busty woman but I hate the feeling of being unsupported. It's really uncomfortable for me, so I have soft sleep bras and nice-fitting Knix bras. However! I support (heh) your decision to (figuratively) burn those bras!
Books - I loved Orbital! I just finished a book that was NOT for me, Rubyfruit Jungle. I should have DNFed it. I need to get better about DNFing books I'm not enjoying. Oh well, it was short and didn't take long to read.
Plants! My garden is insane right now and I just finished roasting tomatoes for freezing, and I'm just about to grate zucchini to freeze.
Life's little pleasures - I went to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat on Friday with the girls, and before that we went for dinner and I had a lovely Aperol spritz!
Nicole--In my youth I wore a bra all the time because my older sister told me it would keep my boobs from being saggy and sad in old age. I feel like that didn't really have much of an effect, so even though I'm supporting your 24/7 bra-wearing (with some astonishment), I will continue on my au naturel path.
DeleteOooh, zucchini! I'm a big fan unless they get big. I like when they're about 5-6 inches and still nice, not fibrous and seedy. I make stuffed zucchini boats, use the grated zucchini in meatballs, and love it on the grill or just sliced and sauteed in olive oil with a little garlic and sometimes onion.
Dinner out with girlfriends is always nice. Did you enjoy the show? I had recently a Limoncello Aperol spritz--quite refreshing and just as pretty to look at as the original.
I am SO WITH YOU on the boob situation - oh my goodness. As you know, I've lost some weight in the last year (63 pounds!) and I have been struggling to get a bra that's comfy and actually fits. I've tried this one (apparently I'm too short? my boobs were kissing my navel in this one). And I've tried my beloved Victoria's Secret with no success. Oof. I'm a little too endowed to go braless at work. Dang it.
ReplyDeleteBug--63 POUNDS! You are the Incredible Shrinking Woman.
DeleteI remember when I lost a very similar amount of weight in a very short time and bra shopping was brutal. I was working as well--teaching!--so I couldn't go without. I made an appointment for a professional fitting, and even then it was tough. You have my sympathies. Once you find one, guard it with your life!
I enjoyed this post very much and when I got to the last of it, I realized what you were Shaking Loose! HA. Good play on words, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI am one who wears a bra 99% of the time. That said, un underwire has not touched my body aside from maybe once since 2020? And I complained about it the entire time I was wearing it. I've found some great soft bras that give me support while awake, and asleep. For me, they just feel heavy if not confined in some way. But like Nicole, I fully support your decision and we need to give ourselves all the comfort we can.
Some books can really disappoint us, but that is life, Right? Sorry that Parallel lines didn't work for you. I need to look into Orbital, myself, because it sounds divine. Recently, I fell into the hype of a book and I just knew I was going to love it and it fell flat for me and I DNF. Everyone raved about it, and I wondered what was wrong with me? There were so many characters and I couldn't keep up, or keep up my attention. (Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. Did you read it?)
Nance, your list of pleasures is the best! My list would be very similar to yours and I'm thinking of a crib (or pack and play) for my office too. *Squeal* XO
Suz--Underwires belong in the 7th Circle of Hell where they will be immersed in boiling blood and scorched by fire along with the other sinners who perpetrated violence (according to Dante). I once had an underwire poke me so unmercifully during a school day that it left a bruise.
DeleteMy dear friend--The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store was a big D N F for me, and I decided to break up with its author forever. Moreover, I donated it to my nephew's bookstore so he could resell it and make some cash. That book just left me irritated and bored. IT'S NOT JUST YOU.
I'm so excited for you to get a crib for your office! We had a pack 'n play, but Theo outgrew it very quickly. Now he's sleeping in the same crib that Sam and Jared used to. It's going to be so much fun and a life you never could have imagined. I'm so happy for you! XO
I have found a bra I really love from Duluth Trading Company, of all places! It feels like a double layer half tank after I take those ridiculous foam inserts out. I’ve been listening to audio books at work but I miss holding a book in my hands. Something about the weight, the smell, it adds to the experience, and it is just missing with the audio books. I’m reading a lot of what I call brain candy, it isn’t substantial but it is entertaining!
ReplyDeleteDBF--How on Earth did you find a bra at Duluth Trading Company? I didn't even know they had them there. What a great icebreaker that is at a party--just walk up to someone, martini in hand, and say, "Get this: I get my BRAS at Duluth Trading Company!" and simply raise your glass as if it were a toast and wait for the reaction. Fantastic.
DeleteI feel the same way you do about audiobooks, but I might make an exception for Leslie Jones's autobiography. I think I have some media credits or something from Amazon--unless those expire; they're from ages ago--and if I can get it for free, I'll do that. She cracks me up, and like you, I could use some brain candy. She reads it herself and I read that she does a lot of ad libbing and asides.
I "support" your decision to go braless, not that you needed my support!
ReplyDeleteNow I really, really want to read "Orbital." I need to make sure I add that to my hold list next. It sounds so very good and you are the 3rd person to recommend it to me!
I love your list of small pleasures. Mine was coffee, tending to my hanging baskets (I love deadheading - it's so satisfying!), my monthly book club meeting, reading out loud to Paul, reading for hours on end (which I was able to do yesterday since I had the house to myself), and running or walking by bodies of water.
Lisa--I hear you about deadheading. I pinch back my basil to keep it from flowering/going to seed, and the smell of it alone is so rewarding. I get the sense that you might feel about water the way I feel about trees. Trees center and calm me; does being near water do that for you?
DeleteOrbital is such an experience of a book. To call it a novel is really a misnomer. I'm so glad I buy books because this one will be a fixture on my Favourites Shelf and will be reread many times. I hope you enjoy it.
I always loved reading to my kids, and that included my students. Both my sophomores and my juniors appreciated being read to. I think it's so important for kids of all ages to hear the language of literature. Your children will remember being read to for the rest of their lives, and those memories will be fond ones.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey was on Barack Obama's 2024 list of favorite reads for that year. That and your recommendation is enough for me to put it on my wish list. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way I could go braless in public. My nipples are at my waist without support. But my bra is the first to get unhooked the minute I'm home, then my shoes come off.
Jean--I didn't know that Orbital made President Obama's list. That doesn't surprise me at all. He's a reader of wide interests and varied tastes. I hope you enjoy it too.
DeleteI hear you about losing the bra first thing. There were days when I would get rid of it in the teachers' parking lot! All of us know how to do that surreptitiously through a sleeve without anyone even noticing. It's yet another facet of our Feminine Mystique.
Oh, what a delightful catch-up post, Nance! My comments are not in order ...
ReplyDeletePart 1 (in two parts because of the message that my comment is two long)
I have looked enviously at flat-chested and less endowed women most of my life, once I got over the initial excitement of having breasts as a teenager. It's an underwire for me or it's a waste of time. Large floppy breasts are traumatizing to me (thinking of my mother's mother who was poor and had 10 kids and breastfed them all of course) so the best I can do if I'm not home alone is an old fatigued bra that still provides some support. I just purchased three new bras that actually place my breasts where they're supposed to be and while I'm not enjoying wearing them, I am enjoying that aspect. I am currently in the middle of a major purge and all except two fatigued bras for the near-bra experience when wearing PJs around others are being trashed.
The major purge started out as a minor purge in getting ready for my annual gluten-free girlfriends' retreat. It became a major purge when some of late dear husband's relatives gave B & J a downright insulting wedding gift. That's a story I will share with you on our next chat. Their actions have inspired me to let go of almost everything that came from the entire family. I feel zero joy and often anger when I look at any of those things now. So I'm making daily trips to our charity thrift shop at the moment. I will need some help with the corner cabinet from S's grandmother.
Coincidentally, our book club selection for this month (our meeting is this evening) is The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. I've know about the concept for several years. I'd say the book is a good introduction to anyone who needs a little push but it's unlikely to motivate folks who don't already do periodic purging and I don't think it clearly conveys that periodic purging should be the goal for most people. Purging is at best an ongoing process and not a one-time thing. Still, I'm looking forward to the discussion tonight with others.
to be continued ...
Shirley Part One--First let me say that I'm terribly sorry that Those Relatives cannot stop being thorns in your crown. I remember the dishtowel gift story, and my heart aches for you and for B and now J. Bravo to you for reclaiming your Joy and your Zen and just getting rid of anything with their aura attached to it. You will feel so much better and lighter when all is said and done.
DeleteYour bra collection and its degrees sound like my underwear collection in that I have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string underwear. I really resent how expensive underwear is, and I hate how many truly ridiculous options there are. I am hanging onto my current array like grim death because I absolutely dread (and fear) having to replace any of it.
...
Thanks so much, Nance. Oh, the gift stories over the years. B has been on the receiving end of a lot of them and witnessed so many others so that's probably why he wasn't surprised. Even J wasn't surprised. She picked up on family cues right away. I guess I should not have been surprised either. It's the kind of thing where I imagine yourself calling them out on it but I would be made to look like the bad guy not them. Just going to reclaim my Joy and Zen as you say and refuse to further invest my energy in such people.
DeleteYour underwear collection is a worthy comparison. I can only use 100% cotton underwear so my choices are limited. That turns out to be a blessing for the most part. But I do have first- and second-string underwear. lol
Part 2
ReplyDeleteWhen the woodpeckers became more aggressive than ever with pecking holes in my siding, I found an owl with a rotating head (simply activated by a little wind). I was skeptical it would make a difference but it has, Nance! No more holes in my siding. Now if I could just get something to deter the squirrels in every circumstance. My handyman friend replaced the corner cedar siding on my garage that they had chewed years ago. I just wanted it to look good again. There's nothing in the garage that they would be interested in so I wasn't expecting any follow-up action on their part. Within days of him replacing those boards, they were back at it chewing not only them up but also the siding immediately beside them, which they had never bothered before. Bastards. It always seems I am fighting Mother Nature here but at least I know the beast (or beasts in this case). I think about that a lot when considering moving from here. What if I moved somewhere, only to learn it's a new flood zone, fire zone, etc. No area is immune of course, especially with climate change; I get that but 40 years here and already having spent considerable money to repair some problem areas is a pretty big measure of comfort. That's not something I want to start investing in elsewhere.
After reading your praise and the description, the Orbital book is very intriguing to me. Your description of the downfall of the other book seems like one of my criticisms of many novels. Characters that don't seem to be that different from each other and seemingly serve no purpose. The characters are people I wouldn't give the time of day in real life; why would I want to force myself to read about them? Sometimes you wonder if the author was just completing their own exercise on character development. A lot of books that folks rave over I find completely uninteresting and don't finish. (Sometimes I simply read the description, find it repellent, and immediately go, no, that's not for me.) The book club selection for last month I couldn't even get 20 pages into. Back to the library that went and I skipped the meeting. No regrets.
Pleasures ...
Time with dear friends and dear family members ... For example, this week my sister and BIL were here so they, my niece, and I had our much belated birthday celebration (my birthday is July 17, sister's is July 19, and niece's is July 21) at mom's and then a winery and brewery outing the following day. Saturday was a Motown performance with friends to celebrate our birthdays (we're each a week apart) and yesterday was a movie and dinner with friends. This weekend will be an overnight visit to good friends an hour away and then a visit to my sister and BIL at their home a few days later.
The best food--along with the camaraderie--with my gluten-free girlfriends at said retreat. Amazing gluten-free focaccia is something else and a thing of its own beauty when turned into incredible pizza. Plus, glorious flourless vegan chocolate tarts (made with raw cashews and raw cacao, there is no deprivation, believe me!).
Quiet cooler mornings.
Winning a battle that shouldn't have had to be fought. Three and a half months after Amazon damaged my garage (after initial denials, a low-ball offer, and me not backing down), Amazon's insurance company finally paid me for the damage one of their subcontractor's drivers did to my garage gutter and gutter guard. The workers are due to show up any moment to replace it all. This was the second time in 15 months so now I ponder how to keep it from happening again (short of stopping ordering from Amazon--I have reduced my orders significantly though).
The freedom to come and go without thinking of others (at the moment at least). After decades of not having that freedom, it really is an adjustment and pretty joyful to be honest.
Check-ins from son, DIL, and granddog Mochi. Always the best.
All for now ... love and hugs,
Shirley
Shirley Part Two--My owl worked wonderfully last year, but this year we neglected to move him. The bunnies figured it out. Rick needs to relocate him to increase his bobble-headed effectiveness. Now, whether or not an owl would help with your damnable squirrels, I don't know, but what I do know is that Squirrels Are The Worst. Ask anyone. I've tried everything to deter them, and NOTHING WORKS. Your best bet might be to install a squirrel feeder (I know, I know) nearby to entice them away from your cedar siding. And anyone who says, "Spray the siding with hot pepper sauce" is wasting your time. Been there, done that with bird food. They love it.
DeleteIf you are a library user, by all means check out Orbital. You have nothing to lose. It's classified as science fiction/fantasy by some, but I find that to be erroneous. You can read an excerpt on Amazon and see what you think. I'm entranced. As far as most modern fiction in general, I continue to find it...meh. Maybe I'm a harsher critic because I taught creative writing and because I do freelance editing/writing (although that work is NOT in the fiction realm). Maybe I'm just a literature snob because of my concentration in English/Victorian literature in college. But overall, I'm looking for more than what a lot of current fiction is giving me. And it seems like you are, too.
Motown, focaccia, flourless chocolate tart...sounds absolutely perfect! And to share it with good friends and family, even better. And one of the reasons I don't mind Piper waking me at 6:30 is that, like you, I enjoy a quiet and cool morning.
Shirley, your freedom has been hard-won. I know it's not exactly what you may have wished for at this stage of your life, but here it is and you deserve to enjoy it. I'm so glad you've taken the steps you have to do just that. XXOO
The damned squirrels run right by the owl (which is positioned on the fence at different points). Feeding the squirrels is actually how the squirrel problem started. Smokey started feeding them decades ago and he learned pretty quickly that they would never be satiated AND that there was no safe place to store their food. They have not been fed in decades here and I'm not going to resume that lest my screened porch and entire garage get ravaged by the bastards.
DeleteOh, I agree on current fiction. Some folks just want to read to read. They don't even care if something is memorable. Much like they watch Netflix shows or movies. Very indiscriminate in their taste. That is not me at all. I don't think either of us are literature snobs---although with your background, you have plenty of reason to be. I simply think we value our time. Btw, one of my acquaintances pulled out of our book club because she said it didn't offer the intellectual rigor that she desired. That was amusing to the leader and me. I suspect that a book club that had that as a requirement might not be a good fit for me either. We are complicated creatures, aren't we?
Thanks, dear. I'm actually "good" with everything along those lines at the moment. No sadness here. At least not about this particular situation. Don't get me started on the rest that consumes my brain the better part of the day though ... Anyway, now I'm imagining you and Piper (as a "loaf") enjoying your quiet and cool morning. Lovely. xoxo
I have definitely entered my Just Don't Care phase of life regarding bras! I want to say it was last year or the year before when I switched to wearing tank tops under shirts and dresses instead. I started with cotton ones, and have recently bought a few wool, which are even better (they breathe, but don't smell when I get sweaty). No, they have no support, but I don't care. I have boobs. They move when I walk. If I don't care, why should anyone else?
ReplyDeleteccr--"I have boobs. They move when I walk. If I don't care, why should anyone else?" Hear hear!
DeleteTHIS IS THE ENERGY I'M TALKING ABOUT.
At my age I'm no one's sex object. I'm not trying to be provocative or come-hither. I wore a bra for more than fifty years. I served my time and now these boobs are free! If anyone has a problem with it, please do come tell me. I cannot wait to answer that complaint.
I’m SO GLAD that you are loving Orbital! I found it to be meditative and so, so lovely. I’m glad that I bought it and can read it as many times as I want.
ReplyDeleteI’m with Nicole, I sleep with a bra (a shirt that has a little shelf bra) and I hate the feeling of flopping around. I would like to wear a bra in my coffin, thank you.
I’m currently reading a book that my sister suggested to me, Meet Me in Another Life, by Catrina Silvey. It’s no Orbital, but I’m really enjoying it. And I’m behind on book reviews for my blog.
One little pleasure was yesterday, we went to Ted’s company picnic, and there were several toddlers there, as well as several dogs, and they were all absolutely charming, and I only had to talk to one lawyer the entire time, and he’s Ted’s friend and didn’t talk about cases, we talked about restaurants.
Another pleasure was Saturday, when we went to dinner in Oakland. It was 96 degrees here, and not quite 80 there, so it was LOVELY. We window shopped at a hardware store and a fancy food store and then had a nice dinner where we sat at the bar and talked to restaurant regulars and watched the bartenders make drinks. It was kind of zen.
J--I'm just not a Dinner At The Bar kind of person. We've done it several times in several different places, and I always feel crowded and rushed. I do, however, love to watch truly skilled bartenders make drinks. Not the showy, theatrical bartenders so much, but the ones who really know their stuff and even the casual observer can tell they are smart and respect the ingredients.
DeleteYou know how I feel about dogs. Just the idea of them at a picnic makes me happy. I'd have drifted over to wherever the dogs were immediately, especially if the place was crawling with lawyers.
As far as wearing a bra in your coffin, make sure you tell this to a few Key People. I'm very, very, VERY concerned regarding certain End Of Life things, and I've made them well known to lots of people so that there isn't any doubt about anything. It's helpful now that it's here in writing. I, for one, will bear witness to this wish.
I’m laughing at the image of Ted or Maya posting sad news on my blog of my untimely demise, and you (and perhaps others) commenting - MAKE SURE SHE HAS A BRA ON!
DeleteI’ve never been an ‘eat at the bar kind of person either, so I was surprised that I enjoyed this. Probably shouldn’t try to recreate it, we’ll get kooks.
Nance--this was the light and spritzy read I needed for this humid afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI salute your braless stance. Personally, I prefer to be bra-ed, boobs--I feel like they're less in the way that way? But my kid and my mom go braless. My non-binary kid doesn't wear a bra--although many other non-binary kids wear bras and even binders. When I asked them, I got this amazing response: Guys have boobs too, and they don't do anything about it." That's so true!
Family chat and plants are life's little pleasures on my list too.
maya--I'm so glad to give you a bit of a mimosa-for-the-brain today!
DeleteI get what you're saying about keeping the boobs stashed and subdued. There are times when I feel like I need to put on a cami to keep them ... less mobile. But most of the time it's not a huge problem.
Guys don't have to do anything about a lot of stuff women are made to, thanks to years and years of society's norms. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, right? Your kid has a great attitude.
Dearest Nance,
ReplyDeleteI, too, am on another purge of Things We Do Not Need Or Use Anymore. AKA, CLUTTER. Like Rick, Mr. O. is also difficult to nudge into action. He has agreed to turfing a few moth-eaten, faded T-shirts. He will cling to his old sneakers, but he has TWO old “spare” pairs, so… I will be chucking The One with Holes in the Soles. When he isn’t looking. My memory is far keener than his for things like this, so if he ever does notice, I will just blithely say, “Oh, you only had one old spare pair.”
On to Other Topics of General Interest:
—Boobs: Ah, so much to comment on, lol. I can remember my university days when I went braless because it was a feminist thing. My mother did remark to me one day (when I was wearing a sweatshirt!) that she “wondered if I was wearing a bra.” I used to think that, since I never had children that I breastfed + the fact that I have very small boobs, that they would never sag. Sadly, not true, lol: even though I am about as far from buxom as you can get, I have had to accept the fact that age and gravity work their evil just the same. So, yeah, I wear a bra, BUT: it’s stretchy, comfortable sports type bras with No Hooks or Underwire. I think that would be comparable to the cami you mention. Texas summers in recent years last from May to Fallvember, and I wear thin T-shirts out of necessity.
—Books: I hopped over to the link on your friend’s blog and read the excerpts + your comments. I then skipped over to Amazon just to have a peek inside. Also listened to the audio version; didn’t like that as much as reading from the page, partly because the narrator had a very British RP (“received pronunciation,” formerly “The Queen’s English” lol) accent, but mostly because every sentence is a such a golden nugget that I needed to appreciate this on the printed page where I can go at my own pace. I will check out Bookshop.org to support local bookstores. I’m all for that!
—Plants: No garden, as you know. I just read that basil can be grown indoors. Imma check it out! I could try it out on my balcony, but I’m pretty sure those poor plants would fry this time of year.
—Life’s Little Pleasures:
1) Watching our 2 telenovelas on weekday nights. With evening snacks. I love watching all the villains knowing that it will all end happily ever after. How simplistic is that? Given the political times we are living in, it is a pleasant escape. Lol.
2) Attending Toastmasters meetings after a 2-decade lapse. We found a club that meets midday in our neighborhood and have met a lot of interesting folks. Preparing speeches has been fun and helpful in my “Vignettes from Life in Spain” project.
3) Having time to cook "properly" again and not grade papers.
4) Baby Kia. My new “retirement” car. With automatic transmission, you will be happy to hear. Tired of getting stuck on an icy hill in winter, lol.
5) Posting my daily Wordle results on a friend’s FB page where other aficionados also post. Lots of fun banter in the comment section.
XXOO
Ortizzle
Ortizzle--You and I could chat endlessly about our streamlining. I swear that I'd be happy with almost cell-like surroundings and a sort of uniform wardrobe. How things have changed!
DeleteI agree that Orbital is best read in the traditional way, although I think about hearing it in a calm, velvety tone (the British accent would not bother me if it were in a male voice unless it were quite stodgy and old-sounding) and that might be nice on a reread. You really did your homework on this book.
Congratulations on your new and modern car LOL. I am so happy that you're no longer driving a stick. Honestly, what a lot of unnecessary work and moving about just to DRIVE. Isn't it lovely now to have only as many pedals as you have feet? And to be able to have your hand free to, oh I don't know, just drink a coffee or water and maybe turn up the volume on a favourite song now and then? You'll feel like a Lady Of Leisure behind the wheel.
LOVE Wordle. My previous max streak was 326, and the day I lost it, I was devastated. My current streak is 165. I play a lot of those NYT games every morning--very entertaining.
When was the last time we missed grading papers? That was a streak I was happy to break.
XOXO
Um, 'better late than...". Oh well. Here goes. And in order.
ReplyDelete1. Coffee - An essential. I am not human until after my morning cup{s). Some would say I do not make the grade even then.
2. My porch and patio. Where the coffee is consumed, the birds are checked out and the deer sometimes wander past. Even in extreme heat, the screened (note, this is vital) space seems to catch an breeze that whispers by.
3. My cigarettes. Oh, I do know. But after being a smoker for (calculating) 68 years, I still love the horrible habit.
4. The family group chat. If I can get to the phone when it bings. We have a landline that we still mostly use but the younger generation try to engage us in Chat. Replying with one finger on the tiny keyboard frustrates me no end, but I do try.
5. Blackberries, not so much. Strawberries, very much. We are still getting late season berries and while they are not as luscious as the June/July crop, still ...
6. The icemaker ESSENTIAL
7. Anticipating my cottage break with the YD and grandkid. And if either of them snore, it will still be worth it.
8. Wonderful neighbours who worry about our welfare and try to phone us when I have forgotten to put the receiver back on the landline ph0ne in my office, thus rendering us iPhone users by fiat and driving the wonderful neighbour nuts trying to reach us, as she intuited an emergency when the landline was blocked. I am not sure I am on her list of favs at present, in fact.
9. (Although it probably should be higher) finding a Department post in my inbox is well inside the top ten.
10. Coffee. Enough to brighten me up far enough to hang up the phone.
Mary--I choose to forget that you are Canadian and therefore Just Being Nice, so I will say I am flattered and overjoyed to make your Top Ten.
DeleteHow lucky you are to still be getting strawberries. Ours have been gone from the local farms for months. The grocery store berries are, as you know, a mere shadow for good local strawberries.
Like you, I cannot type on my phone keyboard with any efficiency at all. I watch with amazement as Sam employs both thumbs in a blaze of speed. My touch-typing on a full keyboard is quite competent, but on the iPhone? Let's just say that I show my age.
I'm so glad to hear that you'll be going to the cottage again soon with your YD and grandchild. I know how much you enjoy it, and it's always good to have something pleasant to look forward to. This summer has been so hot here, and lately so dry, that I'm almost getting frantic. Even weekends at the lake aren't relaxing me out of it. We have Theo for part of this coming weekend, so that may be what I need.
It's always good to see you here, my friend. I'm glad your neighbours check in on you.
snore should have been singular. oops.
ReplyDeleteOh, that indefinite pronoun antecedent agreement complicated by the interruptive prepositional phrase. Gets us every time.
DeleteI'm having a hard time keeping up with everything as I get Reg ready to head to college and spent the weekend in the city for our anniversary - but I'm here for this. I am and have always been so pleased that I'm not a big busted woman. My fav summer clothing are summer dresses with built in bras. So comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI have almost no plants. I did plant a bunch of flowers in pots on my deck - OK, truth be told Tank planted them after he over-bought and I needed to borrow and buy pots. They are really pretty. Watering them is one of Kay's morning chores.
I am finishing up a book about an octopus (remarkably bright creatures), and it was good but not my favorite book. I am about to start Ina Garten's Be Ready When the Luck Happens and I'm so looking forward to it.
Pleasures: We bought a second hand upholstered headboard for our king size bed yesterday and I'm excited about it (although it's not yet attached to the bed, I have high hopes).
I spent the day lounging by Ed's girlfriend's mom's pool. She let me bring the three youngest girls and they all brought a friend and it was relaxing and lovely.
I leave tomorrow to go on an overnight with Mini and Curly- our annual getaway. Looking forward to that.
My dryer has struggled to dry clothes on the first go for months and Coach finally handled it. :)
Ernie--
DeleteI have a friend who had to get breast reduction surgery, and let me tell you, it changed her life. Like you, I never wanted to be a big-busted lady. Honestly, I wish I were even less-endowed right now.
I don't blame you for having almost no plants. I'm not a houseplant person, per se. I used to be, but it turned into a chore, and then the cats factored in, and it wasn't worth it. And I'm not into a lot of outdoor maintenance, either, but I enjoy my herb garden. I have zero flowers/plants at the lakehouse aside from shrubs and grasses because I don't want to worry about keeping up with them when we're not there.
Your pool day sounds perfect. How generous and gracious your host was!
I cannot imagine living with a struggling dryer in a houseful such as yours. No way. I'm glad your husband finally took care of it. Fingers crossed he gets on that headboard while you're away. Drop a few big hints.
Reading is my escape, my sanctuary, my everything, I think. Always has been. I’m currently reading My Friends, by Fredrik Backman. It is so poignant; just beautifully written. And the storyline is sad but also laugh-out-loud funny in spots. I cannot recommend it enough.
ReplyDeleteMy little pleasure at the moment is finishing up The Gilded Age. I had several criticisms of the storyline but that didn’t stop me from watching it every night while doing dishes, cleaning, etc. Anything w/Christine Barankski in it is worth watching.
The world is so awful, isn’t it, that making time for the little things of joy is important. But then I feel almost guilty; people of color today (is it today? I can’t keep track of Trump’s nonsense) in Washington, DC, will be so worried. I’ve read many posts of people in the area telling others not to dare leave their homes. What an awful world. It’s a balancing act, I think, trying to appreciate our lives while doing something. I just don’t know what I can do anymore to make the world less awful. I curse every MAGA every single day. And I curse Schumer and the others for not finding a way to do something. I don’t know what but something.
My donation people are coming this week. I’m thinking of moving back to Philly to be near my kids. Trying to declutter, fix up the house, etc., is overwhelming (and I’ve literally just started!). And I honestly don’t know if I can afford it; real estate/taxes/everything there is astronomical. But, I figure if I don’t at least take some steps to try, I’ll never know. Will see. I really just need to win the lottery….
Elle--I love Fredrik Backman. He writes, as you say, so poignantly. The humour is there, but so is the pathos. That book is on my list; I'll order it on your recommendation. A Man Called Ove and Anxious People are two of his books that I also thoroughly enjoyed.
DeleteRick and I just finished The Gilded Age last night. He and I cannot pass up any costume drama, and I am incredibly fond of anything set in Old New York. I recognized so many of the locations having visited Troy, NY, quite some time ago after the film The Age Of Innocence was released (same period, same society people, many of the same themes). Of course it is a soapy drama--it's a Julian Fellowes creation--but we thoroughly enjoy it. Like you, I'll watch Christine Baranski in anything; she elevates a production immediately. And don't you think the actor who plays Oscar van Rhijn should someday soon play Edgar Allan Poe in SOMETHING?
Elle, I feel the very same way that you do, of course, about the world and what he's doing to it. I am angry and frustrated by the silence from our party. I'm aghast at the cruelty and willful ignorance of the people who voted for him and continue to support him. I'm disgusted and sickened by the entire congress that are more concerned for their own jobs than for the future of democracy and their country. I am doing what I can, and while I do that, I try to make my part of the world a good and kind place.
All you can do is your very best. I'll be thinking of you. XO
I just learned today that Fredrik Backman was here back in May. He spoke at the Cuyahoga Falls library. I was so mad; would love to have seen him. I've seen online coverage of talks he's done. He's very funny.
DeleteAnd literally every time "Oscar" was on screen, and especially in close-ups, all I could think was how he was the spitting image of EAP.
You made me chuckle right there at the end! My thoughts on boobs...really? Let's see 👀
ReplyDeleteNope, dont really have any. Being a little too endowed for my liking, my girls need props. But I totally understand what you're saying. I would do the same if I could.
My little pleasures: my morning tea tray. Milk, sugar or honey, the teapot with its cozy, and a pretty teacup on a silver plate tray might kot be for everyone, but it makes my mornings start on a peaceful note.
My dogs. That look in their eyes when I pet them just about breaks my heart, in a good way.
The surprise of a flower in a place I wasn't expecting. My gardens are so chaotic things are often popping up where I don't remember planting them.
Those are just a few of my little pleasures. I have many; i think I create them to offset the stress of living with my husband. He's difficult at the best of times. Vietnam has a long reach.
GSue--Any time I can give you a chuckle, I'm glad to hear it.
DeleteI love your morning tea ritual. It sounds so pleasant. I like the whole deliberate ritual of it and the idea of you doing something so pretty for yourself each morning. What a special way to start each and every day.
Your unexpected flowers are my volunteer pepper and tomato plants. I was almost childishly excited to find them. Those kinds of surprises are happy and welcome.
I think you're very wise to build in those Little Happinesses--and to take notice of them--to help balance your life. The vestiges of trauma have, as you say, a long reach and many victims.
Uh yes, the freedom of not caring. Underrated.
ReplyDeleteDB--And liberating.
DeleteWell, you’ve got a new follower in me! Suz sent me over because of your no-bra stance. I just wrote about how I gave mine up back in 2020—hear hear! You had me at “I just don’t care.”
ReplyDeleteI’m all about life’s little pleasures too, and I loved reading yours (many of which we share—coffee, icemaker, family...). Lately, mine have been daily phone calls with my oldest daughter, that first sip of morning coffee, a good night’s sleep, no cavities at the dentist, and discovering a new blog to read. 💜
Kari--Hello, and welcome to the Dept.! I'm glad to hear from another woman who has abandoned that torture device in favour of personal comfort.
DeleteWhat a lovely ritual to have, a daily phone call with your daughter. That sounds so nice. I'm sure you share all kinds of things.
I also love waking up after a good night's sleep. There's just something so satisfying having that morning stretch and feeling so rested and rejuvenated. The experts say that you can't bank sleep or even really catch up on lost sleep, but that never stops me from trying.
Thanks again for stopping by, and I hope there's enough here to keep you around.
I must admit that I do not understand the let boobs fly around stance, but I support it fully. You do what's right for you and your body. Personally, I'm too active and too well-endowed to wander about life with boobs flopping hither and to, but I aspire to NGAF and just never wear a bra.
ReplyDeleteLife's little pleasures from this morning:
1. Being able to take a step first thing without pain thanks to PT
2. Pulling tufts of fur out of a shedding dog on our morning walk
3. The cat purring as I brushed her this morning
4. Putting all of my yoga stuff in a new yoga bag and it all fitting
5. Having all my dresses to choose from when getting dressed this morning because we did laundry yesterday
NGS--Thank you for your support. I will say that if I'm doing something active, I wear a cami, which is plenty supportive for what I've got going on Up There. Do try a No Bra Day at home some time when you are going to just relax and (forgive my pun) hang out. It's so comfy.
DeleteI'm so glad your PT is providing you with recovery and respite from pain. Everything is ten times worse when you're in pain and things feel even more overwhelming.
And hooray for having clean laundry, especially when you've come home from being away. What a relief to just open the closets and drawers and have everything there ready to go.