August 2013 – My journey after 50

Long Weekend – Plan – to have no plans

It is the last day of August, puttering about, watching movies, washing dishes, random chores. There is lots on the to do list -but nothing that is pressingly immediate. Good news last week – MRI shows spine clear of lesions – and physiotherapist says I am stronger than I was. So both say whatever I am doing -keep doing it! Sounds good to me!!

The weather is a bit dripping , rain – which is always a good excuse for a movie or two, or Netflix – catch up on six seasons of Dexter while I do the dishes. My fella has a bonfire going in the back yard between sprinkles of rain – someone is taking down trees with a chainsaw – music coming out of the speakers hooked to outside – Doug the Pug is yelping at his favourite rock! We may get the top down on the Miata and toot over to Haliburton to visit friends if the sun comes out -or take out the boat for a ride in one of the lakes – one of the bonus’ of living where we do, there is a lake within 10 minute in any direction.

My older brother Thomas turns 60 this year. No party though, he is off on his Harley to ride the roads to somewhere and if that is what he wants to do, then ride safe!! Now I traded in my Vstar 650 for the Miata – which for the time being is just fine. We were out on a Charity ride last weekend for a local Centre for Healing – from trauma – and I was able to ride two up – I had forgotten how much I enjoy being a passenger on a motorcyle – don’t get me wrong – there is nothing like cruising through a corner on a motorcycle – but I also enjoy being a passenger and the connection to the rider. Plus I can take pictures!!! I think I will have to get out my video camera again – and as much as I like my camera in my Blackberry…I wouldnt mind a regular camera – like I need another gaget!! Cameras do not stick to me very well. Maybe my cosmic angel is telling me I am not meant to take pictures? Or that the coordination required to take a picture and be a passenger is not a good idea??? Did I mention I am not always so coordinated???

So what did I do all summer??? Excellent question. Perhaps that it why I blog, so I can easily find the answer to that question?? Last weekend I had both my children and my sweetie all in the same place together – for that I am thankful. It was to celebrate the wedding of my nephew which naturally brought tears to my eyes as I had not seen him for a number of years, and he is so grown up!! I wish he and his bride all the happiness that a couple can find to enjoy.

This morning my sweetie and I watched part of the Spy Kids 4 movie – I think more adults should watch it!! Humour, fun, good message and totally entertaining!!

Alright! off my butt!! Oh wait, I have three more roses ready to bloom!!

I had a good day today!

My week was pretty good! Not sure why exactly, just was. Went for MRI on Weds. spine, had a nap. My sweetie and I had our 4th anniversary yesterday, and went out for a lovely dinner. Bike Night was busy and hot. Work was busy. There was some pain. Nuah. Mentally, I felt positive. Nothing phased me. I like that. Just a regular week. My sweetie was still on holidays and was busy doing his thing around the house, which is just about anything that needs doing, and somehow there is always a lot. I am thankful for what he does. There was a full moon, August is winding down, and the weather is cooler and dryer, which I love. The picture is from Music on the Barge- a Community event that happens every Sunday night through the summer with different bands. Free, donations from the community keep it going. The organizer Fred Schultz, is amazing a community icon himself.

What do I want to do with the rest of Summer?

A friend asked me this question this morning. I don’t really know. I find when I make plans – they don’t work out. I would like to get out in the boat, I would like to go on a road trip with the Miatas of Muskoka. I also like just enjoying the sunshine, the back yard, reading, playing on here, just random activities.

I find that the plan that works best, is to be able to get up, take the morning vitamins etc., and think as if I have the energy of a superstar, and then see how it pans out.
Having to clean out my place for a tenant was hard, facing different memories, but now that I am almost done, I feel refreshed, and ready to go forward.

My partner and I are were on vacation last week, a break from work was good. The weather was fabulous. Got some stuff accomplished around the house. Focus is on the good stuff.

Today’s reality? Migraine switched from one side of my head to the other, and my brain is a little numb. I made brekky for me and my sweetie and now need to get my butt in gear. Do some more packing. Giddyup!!

Civic Holiday – August 4th, 2013

Small bonfire — Perfect weather for a bonfire

We pretty much have one long weekend a month now I think. New Year, Family Day in February, Easter in March or Early April – Victoria Day in May, Canada Day-July 1st, Labour Day in September, Thanksgiving in October – personally I think November 11th Remembrance Day should be one too, and then Christmas in December. Does not really matter which faith, or non faith you practice, it is nice to take a break and celebrate what matters most to you.

Wikipedia says in Ontario, the holiday was renamed Simcoe Day in Toronto effective 1969 in honour of the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada and the promulgator of the Act Against Slavery,^[4]^[5]^[6] but a motion at the Ontario Municipal Association to extend the name change province-wide failed.^[6]^[7]According to a 2005 proclamation this name continues to apply in the present amalgamated city of Toronto.^[8] Civic Holiday is now known by one of a number of local appellations such as Colonel By Day in Ottawa, George Hamilton Day in Hamilton, Joseph Brant Day in Burlington, Founders’ Dayin Brantford, McLaughlin Day in Oshawa, Alexander Mackenzie Day in Sarnia, James Cockburn Day in Cobourg, Peter Robinson Day inPeterborough, and John Galt Day in Guelph, as well as numerous other names in smaller municipalities.^{[citation needed]} When not given a local name, it is often referred to as ‘Civic Holiday’^[9]. Although a work holiday is given to employees of the federal and many municipal governments,^[1] the Government of Ontario has not defined this day as a statutory holiday and it is not mentioned in either Ontario’s Employment Standards Act or Retail Business Holidays Act.^[10]^[11] The Scotiabank Caribbean Cultural Festival, formerly known as Caribana, is held this holiday weekend in Toronto, coinciding with Emancipation Day.

I bet you skipped all that. So today, after a leisurely breakfast of a steak omelet made by the man of the house, we hopped in the Miata with the top down and headed south down Rama Road, then East across the Switch Road then North on 169 to Brooks Side Road, to Fairgrounds Road, to Coopers Falls Road, to Barkway Road, to Germania Road -circle there we were looking for someone, then East again I think -maybe I need a map on Doe Lake Road to Gravenhurst for a Muskoka Mocha and Bear Claw ice cream cone – compliments of Taste Buds and Kawartha Lakes Dairy. Muskoka Mocha is a new flavour and it is yummmmmy! 65 miles. Lovely, tunes, wind in our hair..

It was a beautiful day for doing anything outdoors, even sitting and listening to the new birds in the nest outside – Juncos. I ventured in the whirl pool to do some exercises and I do believe the day is winding down. No packing today.

The day lilies on the other side of the deck are going to bloom now – there are four of them. I tried to take a decent picture of the other three – with my Blackberry Bold 9900, 🙂 but I couldn’t get it to look the way I wanted it, maybe tomorrow will be better.

I did read the writing challenge for the day – what did I want to be when I grew Up? Physiotherapist, or Psychologist. Uh uh, totally did not happen – not even close.

Saturday August 3, 2013-Up and At ‘Em

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Don’t you love it when you wake up? Breathing is good. I have been obsessed with my day lilies, waiting for them to bloom. They are so beautiful, I think I need more of them for next year. Gardening is not my forte, but then I am still trying to figure out what exactly my forte is.
My body is sore this morning. Tingling in spine, back stiff, electrical current going on in arm, some nausea. The focus however, is that the sun is trying to shine, it is Saturday, and we just finished an awesome omelet made by my best fella. I am sitting in the morning room, watching some birds – I don’t know what kind, flying in and out of a nest they took over – even mother nature recycles.