The New Year is here, already!

It is a great surprise to me that it has been six months since I posted anything here.  Lots has happened in that time.

I have gotten good words from the doctors - I am healthy as a horse and doing everything right to make my recovery go good.  My docs were all very pleased with my progress and the fact that I am doing so well - so am I.

I made a trip to Detroit in August.  I jumped in my car and drove.  I really surprised myself and proved to myself that I can do it.  I had a nice visit with my friend Diana and look forward to going back again and again for as often as she will put up with me.

The work in the basement (making it habitable for my son, his girl and her son) is going well.  There has been a lot of improvement - a really nice bathroom, painting, floors being put down and finishing touches.  Too bad that money has gotten short.  But tax money looms so I am hoping that the job can be finished.  Then I can start with the projects that I want to do upstairs - painting, refurbishing old furniture into new and just freshening things up.  Fortunately it is all stuff that I am going to be able to do myself.  My hubby taught me enough in the way of carpentry and painting etc. that it is going to be a "cake walk".

The holidays came with a bang and kinda slithered out with very little fanfare.  I have two (no make that three) wreaths outside and a tree inside (which is going to come down this weekend).  That is the extent of my decorating for the holidays.  Everything - energy, money and time - went into the basement, which is okay.  Did get a gift card from WalMart and a gift certificate to my favorite restaurant - Mo's.  Spent my gift card today (a new coat, two new blouses and two pairs of leggings) and have had two meals at Mo's so far.

We have had three snow storms already this year.  Luckily my exact location was not affected all that much.  Western Maryland got major inches and lots of ice as well, Eastern Maryland got mostly rain, and the Northeast was lambasted again.  Snow on top of Sandy, what a way to end the year!!!!!

That has been the last six months.  Lots of down time, lots of lunches with friends, lots of gym time (lost 60 pounds so far with 35 more to go to get to goal weight) and lots of time doing e-mails and Facebook.  I have been keeping busy and that is all that counts - doing what I want, when I want and how I want.  Retirement is great.  I have done nothing earth shattering, nothing that would change the world in a major way, and nothing that would be considered major in scope.  Just me being me.

Miracle of Life

The other day at about 4:00 p.m.,while I was walking around in Wal Mart, I came across a young mom holding her baby.  Me being the nosey thing that I am asked how old the baby was.  To my astonishment she replied 15 hours - yep, 15 hours. 

She explained that she had given birth to the little darling at 1:15 a.m. that day at a birthing center (water method was her choice of procedures).  She and the baby were doing well and had been released.  Fifteen hours - WOW!!!!   I was amazed.  She was walking around like nothing out of the ordinary had happened that day.  Shades of the pioneer spirit.  She was a little surprised with herself because she said it was an easy birth with not much pain involved.  Something to be said for that "water thing".

This is the youngest baby I have ever seen except for my son when he was born many many years ago.  This has given me a new found faith that just maybe the next generation is going to do okay.  She had courage and a fortitude that not many young ones exhibit in this day and age.  Bless her heart.  I wished them both well and went on my way with the realization that I had witnessed a minor miracle.

Farther into the Future

I am moving even farther into the future of high tech computer stuff.  My old cell phone gave up the ghost - it was turning itself off whenever it decided that it was a nice time to do so.  Very inconsiderate of the blamed thing especially when I use it for my alarm.  A missed appointment is no fun.  Soooooo, I upgraded. 

This new phone lets me do everything - most importantly it can be set up as a WiFi hotspot that will handle up to five items (computers, etc) at a time.  I can now be in the middle of nowhere and use my laptop - will wonders never cease.  I can actually get on the internet with the new phone, but it is a little small, especially the keyboard.  My fingers are not compatible and I was doing a lot of backspacing (more than normal) to correct things.  I solved this problem by getting a stylus.  I do so much better with this little tool.

I bought a portable netbook the other day as well -has a 7 inch screen and will be good for traveling.  It actually fits in my purse.  I am toying with the idea of taking it back,but probably won't because it is convenient for traveling like I said.

I have truly become a techie - I like using the things, but when it comes to the inside workings I am not so good.  I have to rely on people that are smart about the inner workings of these modern marvels.

Graduation Bell and More

May 11, 2012 was the big day - It was my last day of 7 weeks worth of radiation treatments.  You are given a bell on a pink ribbon to ring as you walk down the hall for the last time so that everyone could cheer for you.  Since that day I have gone to several doctor's appointments for follow ups -  all of whom are very pleased with my progress.  The only thing that I have to get through now is five years worth of Exemestane (a medication that takes estrogen out of your system to keep any cancer cells from transferring to any other part of your body) and mammograms every six months.  Better to be safe than sorry.

I am back to my normal daily routine - which really doesn't mean much.  I go out to lunch with friends, go to the gym at least three times a week and sit around home thinking about all of the things that I should be doing in the way of house work (cleaning and/or laundry) that I don't have the motivation to do.  Procrastination is my middle name at the moment.

The weather has been very nice for the past few weeks - winter was warmer than normal, spring was wetter than normal and so far temps are bearable as is the humidity.  I am hoping that it continues this way because I really want to do some traveling in August.  I am hoping to visit a friend that lives in the Detroit, MI area.  It will be a two day drive, which some of my friends are concerned about.  They can be over protective at times.  If  I don't do it because I am worried about what could happen to me I would never walk out the front door.  None of my friends in the area are retired yet so I have no choice but to do things on my own.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

I have spent the past few minutes going through all of the stats etc. regarding my blog.  I did not realize that so many things were kept track of.  I especially liked finding out that my blog has been looked at by someone in New Zealand (no surprise actually because that is where my pen pal lives) and Germany.  I was in a quandary about Germany, but then I realized that my nephew is in the military and stationed in Germany - maybe he was the one that looked at it - will never know because those who viewed my blog are not identified, just that they viewed it.

It is a quiet spring day - just the right temperature and the humidity is very low.  A nice day for the running of the Preakness - the premier horse race for the State of Maryland.   The race is either close to starting or is over, I haven't checked it out yet.  I got a lot of my spring yard work done early because it was so nice early.  I have some new plants that need to be planted and that is my task for tomorrow.  The rest of the family will be taking a trip to Pennsylvania to hit outlet stores, but I have decided to stay home this year.  I have bought some new clothes that actually fit me now, but I don't want to buy too much more because I have plans to lose more. 

I have so many things that need to be done around the house, but here I sit typing away.  I need to get motivated but have not quite made it just yet.  Oh well, it will all get done in time - at least that is what I keep telling myself.  Won't be long before my son gets home from work and dinner will be ready, this is good because my stomach is starting to talk to me.  I hate it when it gurgles and makes all kinds of noises.

Time to move on.   Take care everyone and hope that I didn't bore you too much.