Brand Spanking NEW

I am spending a couple of nights in a hotel that is BRAND SPANKING NEW. It opened one week ago, and chances are 99% that I am the first person to stay in my room. How cool is that?

First of all, the expression brand spanking new was first recorded in 1860. It evolved from the compound word brand-new and the phrase spick-and-span. A little history for you before I rave about how fun it is to be in a hotel where no one else has ever been on the bed, or chair, or in the shower!!! I am a fan.

I am attending a birthday party tomorrow and needed to get to the Visalia area tonight. When I started looking for hotels, I noticed a Hilton Garden Inn (which we usually like) and when I went to check my dates it said the hotel wouldn’t open until the end of October. I was intrigued. I entered my dates and made the arrangements. When I arrived the woman at the desk said they opened last Friday, after several delays.

I was prepared for some “issues”. You know nothing new is perfect. The first thing that she said was they are having trouble with their room keys being scanned. So, I was escorted to my room and by the time I came down and had a cocktail and dinner, it was resolved. Also, they have the lights on motion detectors that are a bit over-active. The lights were blinking on and off randomly so I called the desk and she said, “Oh it’s the motion detectors” okay, we shall see if I move too much during the night and the lights pop on and off.

I don’t care. This is a very cool experience and I’m not letting anything ruin it for me!

My computer is playing tricks (trick or treat) on me, and I can’t upload more photos. I will post on face book as well. Yes! it looks like your average Hilton Garden Inn, but it smells so freaking new everywhere. It’s like buying a new car x 1000. It is a fun experience; I will never forget it.

14 1/2 years-still heartbreaking

Recently I attended a home-going service in Modesto. Many people in attendance were people Daniel and I trained with, in Martial Arts. I had noticed a particular woman about my age but couldn’t put a name to her face. I stayed a couple of hours and as I was leaving the woman stopped me and asked if I was Daniel’s mom. I said yes, and mentioned she looked familiar… she told me who she was.

She was the mom of a young man who trained and received his black belt around the same time Daniel did. While chatting and catching up with one another she eventually said, “So what is Daniel up to?”

I was so dumb-founded I just stood there with my mouth open, not knowing how to respond. It has been almost 15 years, and I haven’t had to answer that question in probably 14 years. I stupidly assume EVERYONE KNOWS. While not knowing how to gently tell her it is also running through my mind that she is going to feel horrible after I say it.

I gently say, “Did you not know Daniel was killed in Iraq?”

To say the least, I was so shocked and upset that I quickly said hello to her husband as he approached and slid out! (I actually sort of sprinted out).

I had to gather myself in the car, before I could drive away.

No matter how long it has been- telling someone for the first time, 14 1/2 years later, that your only son is gone, is so ridiculously difficult.

Daniel…I truly hope you have no clue; just how hard it is. And my deepest heartfelt sympathy to those that have to deal with the same, each and every day.

back in the seatbelt

It has been a while since I took a road trip. I used to travel frequently visiting little places I haven’t previously been to. The last time I drove to California (in January) I got really sick, and my husband had to fly over and drive me home. I think I became gun shy.

I just finished a book written by an MD about brain health. One of the recommendations is to do things that make you uncomfortable. Step outside your box, so to speak. So, I decided to get back behind the wheel and take a drive. I could not have chosen a more perfect day. It was crystal clear and beautiful. The book also encourages meditation and silence to allow your mind to wonder. Well, when you drive in the remote mountains with no cell service, it gets very quiet. I enjoyed every random thought I had and the complete silence.

I am happily snuggled up in a beautiful ski resort and feel extremely proud that I got “back in the seatbelt”.

Cheers to solo road trips!! If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it.

Juniper Springs Resort, Mammoth Lakes, CA

Why can’t they count back change?

Recently it has become clear to me that people (specifically Starbucks employees) are not able to give back change correctly, if there is any attempt made by the recipient to reduce pennies returned.

Most recent example: Today I drive through Starbucks and my total for a venti drink is $6.77 (which is a crime all by itself). However, I give the young lady $7.00 and 2 pennies so I can receive a quarter back instead of 3 pennies and 2 dimes. I have done similar acts recently to several different people at the same location and the end result is always the same. They have no idea how to give me back the correct amount. And the look of panic on their face is very telling of their stress over it. The young lady today, gave me back 30 cents. A quarter and a nickel. WHY the nickel? So, I politely said it should just be 25 cents and gave her back the nickel.

I would appreciate some feedback on this. Why are “younger folks” generally not able to figure this out and give back the correct amount? Obviously, the cash registers no longer tell them (after they enter the amount given) how much change to give back. Why is this? I thought for a long time that the registers were posting change amounts. Why is this no longer the case?

But the larger question, why are they not able to figure out the change amount, on their own? I am no mathematical expert, not even good at math in high school (took the minimum required and split) but I can figure out these change amounts easily. Is it the tech age? too much credit card usage?

Very curious to hear people thoughts on this. I am making no judgements towards anyone’s abilities. I am just wondering why?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

Me & cardio are on a break.

I am turning 65 in a couple of months. Not only am I tired of receiving the Medicare reminders that I am in fact turning 65 in October, but the flood of ads sympathetically assuring me that weight gain & belly fat are not my fault. IT’S MY AGE. I shout this with a smile, blessed to be healthy and happy at (almost) 65.

Cardio and I have been good friends for many years. I have had seasons of 60 minutes per day, cut back to 30, and back up to 45 minutes, depending on the latest “trend” or recommendation for how much cardio one needs daily. Over the years also adding some weight / strength training, along with the cardio.

My legs and feet are worn out from walking to try and stay ahead. I enjoy riding my bicycle but am tired of feeling controlled by how much time and how fast I NEED to ride.

I have noticed recently I burn more calories doing yard or housework than I do with a full cardio session. Sometimes I have neglected my chores at home due to being overly tired from my daily exercise routine. There have been times recently that I have worked out so hard (to try and lose a darn pound or two) that I’m exhausted the rest of the day. Maybe I am getting old!

I believe in making a change when the system is broken. My current plan is to bicycle occasionally for enjoyment. I will take a walk when the mood strikes me. But no more daily cardio for 30-45 minutes! This is an adjustment because I have been doing early morning (first thing) cardio daily, almost without fail, for years. I will continue with strength training, core work, and some low impact, short, HIIT workouts. But me and constant cardio are done! It isn’t doing any good.

I have a slow thyroid which requires daily medication and I know that is a factor in the ability to lose weight. It is still discouraging when you are doing the “things” and it doesn’t help.

Moving is important and we all know that. Changing your routine is also important.

If you too are struggling and nothing seems to work, don’t give up. Just continue trying new ways and different activities.

I’m thinking as a result of my newfound ways for daily movement, I might even benefit a cleaner house and a prettier yard!

That is a WIN – WIN.

digging deep

Periodically throughout our lifetime, we need to dig into our “drive bank”. We set a goal, and in order to reach that goal, we need the extra drive. This normally applies to physical goals but can definitely be applied to most situations.

Accumulation of too much stuff that needs to be purged, an older person going back to school, trying something that you are uncomfortable with, or any other scenario that causes you to have to dig deep. It can be physical, mental and or spiritual.

I just watched Stephen Curry’s documentary, Underrated. I have been following him for a couple of years. Yes, I am way behind a lot of people who discovered Steph years ago. I find him inspirational in a number of ways but did not know anything about his high school / college years. Watching him recover from injuries in the past couple of years and then find his “drive” to get back to the intense training and come back to where he is, is inspiring.

I learned after watching his documentary how tough it was for him to get the opportunity to arrive where he has and that makes me even more obsessed.

If you are an individual that people take one look at and decided what your abilities are – and you have proven them wrong, good for you!

No one can assume how people will turn out. That is totally up to each individual.

Running one marathon, 2- 1/2 marathons, and earning a black belt at 42, are the times in my life where I had to dig deep. I accomplished all of these goals after I had turned 40. And I had to recover from an ACL reconstruction between my last red belt to get my black belt. Many times, during that recovery I wanted to give up, but I didn’t. I wasn’t interested in being competitive in my early years and I didn’t play sports in high school. I learned I had the “drive” late in life.

It wasn’t the medals, or the black belt that changed me…it was the training to get to all of the finish lines. Those expectations (of myself) and accomplishments will stay with me forever!

How things change.

I’m sure I am not the only Baby Boomer who wonders how on earth we survived having babies, vs. how Millennials (now having babies) do things.

To top the list- taking a shower and washing our hair. It would seem that “WE” used to lay our baby on the sofa or the carpet on a lovely baby blanket, in the playpen or their bed and go take a shower and wash our hair just as we did before the baby was born.

For some reason that now seems to be impossible, or very difficult to accomplish.

The expensive and vast number of “gadgets” being bought and used today, vs. a crib, playpen, walker and highchair. If you were fortunate, you also had a baby swing. I had a crank up baby swing with our first and was loaned a battery-operated swing with our second. We used the swing a lot the second time around since baby #2 didn’t like to nap. So, if I was lucky enough to get her to fall asleep in the swing, I left her there and would get stuff done before she woke up. I was sure to have good batteries in the swing at all times.

Also, the crying baby vs. don’t allow them to cry at all. I don’t know who is right on this one. I have always believed that since a baby has no other form of exercise that a bit of crying allows the baby to move their arms and legs and perhaps even tire out a little. Nowadays, a crying baby indicates you are doing something wrong or some form of abuse…it would seem. Again, with social media as it is (which I had none of) I am sure today’s busy mother can be made to feel badly based on ALL THE ADVICE and strong opinions out there. That is pressure I am glad I did not have.

This didn’t happen very often with baby #1.

He was normally this guy.

The way we do things certainly changes over the years. Our babies were put down on their bellies. Now it is advised to lay babies on their backs.

*I mean no disrespect to any generation for how they handle anything. We are all trying to do the best we can to survive.

*I also am NOT recommending any of my ways of doing things (back in the day) as the way they should be done. It’s a new day, a different time, and I’m sure you are all doing a fantastic job!

Pumpkin Patch progress

The theory was, plant several seeds because they won’t all come up. Well, it would appear that every seed I planted decided to sprout.

I have two rows that I need to combine to one. It is a small space and I need the vines to be allowed to overflow in both directions. Tomorrow morning, I will pull out the smaller stems that are crowded and move some from the back row to the front. Hopefully I get a good variety of pumpkins and plenty to share with our daughter.

They grow so fast; they actually get larger in the evening then they were in the morning!

just a thought…

It is easy to support a friend during the fun, exciting, and celebratory times in life.

When tragedy strikes a dear friend, it becomes challenging to know how to best meet the needs of that individual correctly.

While some people may want constant contact and communication, others may need to be left alone. Trying to figure out how much or how little to reach out is difficult. We want our friend to know we are available and ready to help in any way we can. We also want to respect privacy and their need for a quiet time.

There is no easy answer. But ultimately the receiving friend will know you are supporting them and eventually will thank you!

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C. S. Lewis