OMG Summer is half gone!!! So beautiful!

Greetings Blog fans  - I have been a bad bad blogger.  Jumping from season to season with no real path, keeping you in suspense, as one of my few faithful fans said "Need new blog - get on it woman!"

Summer is here in the north and it is glorious.  Blue skies, green green grass, birds, animals, and now the golden fields of blooming canola.  Did you know those tiny smelly little flowers are now the bane of my existence?  I adore them - they are breathtakingly beautiful - but OMG they make my eyes burn, my sinuses plug up and SNEEZES...so my new bestie is Aunty Histamine.... LOL  She's right up there with Ty Lenol, E Senntial Oils and Aspi Rin.  Yup, getting old is, as my mom says, sucky.

And I'm old.  Yup, I admit it - in my mind I'm still young, but physically?  Well first it was an age spot, then a small covey of wrinkles who had such fun on my face they invited all their friends and family...now age spots abound, joints creak and moan and there are days I just wanna stay in bed with a cuppa and a book.  Oh and a cat - make that two cats. But I  digress....

If you are over 60 you know there's the guilty pleasure of ordering on the seniors menu, getting discounts, and the excuse of asking someone to help carry heavy stuff.  But there is also the reality of making a mistake, tripping or heaven forbid falling - and suddenly you are incorrectly labelled "Infirm"  Good God! I don't mind someone giving me a hand but when its preceeded with Oh let me help you with that dear, careful mind the step, are you able?????? I see Red!  It's AGE-ISM  and it's nasty.  I have experienced it first hand - and hate it!  I'm able to take care of myself, if I need help I have no problem asking for it.  But take my elbow, steer me along and call me dear....Man I am Angry right now!  Ageism comes from not only the young, tender snowflakes but from other seniors!! "we're all getting older, where are you going to live when you retire? you know we can't all be independent forever?" and the ever NOT popular "well have you considered selling you bike?"  

And the answer - NO and when I do it's going to be my decision, no  one elses!  I know, I'm getting all prickly over what could genuinely be concern.  I mean I recently and for the first time in 45 years of riding fell over.  It was a 4 km an hour wipe out - incredibly embarrassing, my ego suffering badly!  I ended up with some spectacular bruises but no damage done to me or the bike.  But when I clanked to the ground a herd of young guys rushed over, helping as they could, helping me stand up, picking up my bike (which was not damaged)  I guess there's a first time for everything eh?  A hard right turn coming down out of a gravel parking lot onto a tight paved road was just not what I was able to do that day.  Sheesh, am I getting to old for this $hit?  It did make me think that night cleaning up my boo boos ….and the survey says NO I am not.  LOL I sure don't bounce like I used to, but even so I wasn't in pain.  But never the less it was damn humbling.

Today I have a massive impressive purple bruise on my right elbow, heck on the majority of my arm;  this morning my husband said "Impressive bruise on your hip babe" and yes, there it was!  I'm fortunate - it could have been worse.

But the way I see it - it wasn't.  I know what I'm capable of doing and I know that I need to get out and walk, ride, and move more!  It's been a tough start to the year, huge snows, flooding, flu, rain, cats, family, work, roads....did I mention I got stuck in the mud twice?  The positives however outnumber the negatives - we have wicked wonderful landlords - they are so nice, so caring, just so genuine - it's a blessing!  We have a great place to live and work - and we like our jobs and coworkers! Our cats, tho hairy beyond words, are pretty cool.  And we love each other - being a couple with hubby is just the best.   So life is great - sitting on our deck, listening to the birds, enjoying the scenery - what more can we ask?  Life is wonderful!

Please come soon spring, please come soon!

Yup. that snowdrift is starting to shrink.  Above the height of the barbeque, it's been out there growing and ebbing, and now the dirty truth of spring is upon us.

Mud coats our vehicles.  Our shoes, the drive, the dirty leftovers of winter - which is grand!! A slow melt means less chance of flooding as the moisture goes into the earth.  Floods we don't need!

With spring comes the usual suspects - March brings St. Patrick's day, a green celebration of all that is or might be Irish - and we did the deed in good style, with new friends and coworkers coming to enjoy the food and drink laid out for the occasion.  Soon Easter will be here, with family and food and reflection on what it means.  Oh and chocolate eggs for the neighbors lads!

So my time is spent recently as a housewife, homemaker, sometimes feeling like the cleaning service and a maid.  My contract is ended, and my employment is sporadic at best.  I have interviewed for some really interesting and challenging jobs in town, but no one has "pulled the trigger" so I await a decision.  A second interview on one today - time will tell, by end of week I should know!

Ambitious me? nooo not a  bit.  I struggle to pile up dishes, load the washer and fold laundry.  It seems the older I get the more I want total me, total down time.  To blog, to watch weird shows on line, to listen to music and cuddle the cats.  The downside? cat hair everwhere, towels unfolded, and counter space filled with stuff that needs attending to! The snow is melting - life goes on!