Socializing

Instead of exercising our bodies, today we exercised our social skills by having a couple of neighbors over for brunch.  Need to do that now and then to keep in the loop with people.  It can become too easy not to entertain, I think, since it does take some effort. However, I think we need to connect with people even if they don't necessarily have the same interests as we do.  Sometimes we can be pleasantly surprised by people whom we have seemingly nothing in common.  Actually, the more different they are from us the more interesting and refreshing they can be.  It's like opening a book by an author we have never read and being unexpectedly delighted with its story.

How I see God

I said I am always searching to know God better.  Well, this is how I see Him.  He neither punishes us for bad behavior nor rewards us for good.  He doesn't manipulate us, but if we listen to our concience we know what is right from wrong.  He lets us make our own mistakes, which we are so good at doing and the results are natural consequences of what we choose to do.  He is there to comfort, hear our prayers and let us know that He is there to strengthen and help us.  He is the creator, He came here in person to show us who He is and His spirit remains with us today.  He is the same today and always.

I believe that the people of the old testament had a belief of a God who punished them and rewarded them because that was how they understood their world.  But He is the same God then as today.

I have a friend who has terminal cancer.  We are all praying for her, but that doesn't mean she will recover her health.  But, it does mean that God will never leave her alone and He will give her comfort and be with her forever.

I think forgot to say that  I also have blueberries in my yogurt everyday to keep my memory sharp.

Bike ride today

We had a very comfortable bike ride today.  Reduced humidity and temperature and a nice breeze really made a difference since it has been pretty unbearable the last week.  At least for use northerners.  Yesterday the locals talked about the cold front coming in today.  Mid eighties, can you believe it? 

Going for the long haul

Since my dad lived to 101, I figure I need to take care of myself if I want to make it that long with the best possible quality of life.  That's why I run 4 miles most days or bike at least 12 miles and swim(while the water is warm, wimp) do strength building, stretching and a little yoga for balance.  Not to forget the brain, too.  Have to try new things and keep at those crossword puzzles daily.   Sure, I have heard the latest that crossword puzzles don't help, but I'm not taking any chances if they change their minds.

Eating healthy is important to me, too.  For instance for breakfast I usually have a banana with peanut butter(taught that one to my grandkids) and yogurt (4th cup plain and 4th cup flavored both lowfat) with ground flax seed, walnuts and alittle granola for more crunch.  According to the latest, I should have more than my two cups of coffee, but that would rev me up too much. Now I know I shouldn't add sugar, but I never said I was a purest.  Besides what is the use of living so long if you can't enjoy a few indulgences? Otherwise those could be very looong 101years.

Memories

You know what's great about having a blog?  Even if no one ever reads it you can still talk about yourself all you want and not feel like you are being narccisistic or something.

Today I took an old embroidered fine linen table cloth that had been my mother's and possibly my grandmother's before her and made a kitchen curtain out of it.  There are many threadbare places and loose threads on it attesting to a history of many fine dinners over the years. If it could only talk, what stories it would tell. Anyway, I just couldn't stand to have it stuck away forgotten and disused in my sister's garage and since it was beyond  its original function, I thought this would be a way to bring it out and enjoy it. I love it, probably more because of the sentimental memories than a  decorative addition to my kitchen.  But I will get more pleasure from this worn looking piece of cloth then anything.  To me it is beautiful!

While I was working on my curtain, Michael was putting together an album of pictures from his bike trip he took to Nova Scotia for three weeks this summer with his friend Nathan.  New or old memories, they are all important to us.  I'm just thankful we still can remember them!

Do we have food!

We made our trek to McDill commisary today so no running for either of us.  When we get home, we always feel as if we bought enough food for the entire county.  It is always a challenge to find a place for it all, but since we only go down a couple times over the next six months we try to stock up as much as possible.  We hate this  chore, which took us two and half hours just to pick out our groceries since every item has to  be checked for sodium, fat, sugar, price, coupons compared one item  with all the others to be sure it is the best buy.  Glad  that's done!  But when you're retired that is your job and you have no excuse not to do  it right.   You have to pride yourself in a whole different set of goals once you are retired.

Real Floridians

You know how you can tell who the real Floridians are?   They say that 80 degree weather is "so pleasant!)  Montanan's say (man it's hot!).  In Florida when it's in the 80's you have to get up and do any outdoor activity early enough to be done by 10am.  I think we got here alittle early, considering the weather and humidity.  Afternoons are great for indoor activities, so the art classes will be be a great diversion. 

More about kayaking.  I wondered in the middle of the night where I got the bruises on my forearms.  Then remembered hefting myself up on the dock yesterday.  Need to find a more independent place for my launching.  This is a great area for placid kayaking.  Many lakes are joined together so one could paddle away for hours following the shorelines and checking out nature. Just need to get eye contact with the boaters who are bigger than I am to remind them to down throttle when they pass by. 

The biking here is great,too because we have 48 miles of Rails to Trails a mile from our house.  This morning we took a quick ride before church.  Remember, too hot in the afternoon for Montanans.  Need to get up earlier on Sunday, though, have the time to have a really decent ride.  Just pedaled harder. 

Kayaking today

Went out in my kayak this morning.  I have a sleek yellow kayak that cuts through the water like a knife.  I went looking for the resident gators, but the only reptiles I saw were some turtle heads bobbing under the water as I glided by.  Egrets and herons were wading along the shoreline looking for their breakfast and fishermen made wakes for me to navigate.  They seemed to enjoy buzzing me.

It was a good workout, mostly upper body.  But when you do it right, you can get full body exercise, twisting at the waist for full strokes and working the legs on the pedals pulling the energy throughout the body.  Only problem was when I got back in to the pier(Michael was still out on his run) I had a real challenge getting myself up onto the dock.  First, I pulled myself up on the back of the boat and planted my feet for balance.  The challenge came with balancing my boat while reaching up and grabbing onto the deck.  I had to forget about the cobwebs and spiders for a bit, then had to psych myself in to "I can do this" and pull myself up on my belly in one fast heave.  I made it without going over!  I even got the boat pulled up out of the water, onto the cart and back to the house without.

What I have observed is, as I get older, they make things heavier, shelves higher and lids on tighter.  Must be a conspiracy against those of us who are using up the Social Security funds.  Weed us out before it is all gone for the Baby Boomers.

Glitch in class

The bad news is my drawing class was canceled.  The good news is the watercolor class is still on. Better to focus on one, I know, but since I have been trying for so long to get started, I want to do it all now.  Ok, so slow down.  I know how enduring things are made of the slow and steady.  That has always been a problem for me.  I want to learn how to do something now and I don't want any learning curve.  Doesn't work that way.  Patience that's the first thing to learn. Is there hope at my age?  Well, time will tell with this class.  The most important thing for me to learn from this class, then, is patience.  And perserverance.  We'll see.

Changing it up

Today we went for a short 13 mile bike ride to change up the routine a bit.  It really helps the body, I think, to vary the exercise and use different muscles.  A little swim afterwards rounded out the workout.  Waters getting colder.  Hope I can keep it up, but I am a wimp when the water gets too cold.  How I wish they would heat it up a bit. 

I think it's important to try and keep a balance to life.  It really does take some concerted effort to figure out what works best for me.  it is too easy to become complacent and fall into a predictable daily pattern.  What is my passion?  At 69 I'm still working at finding out and I think I'm getting closer.  Monday I begin a drawing class at the art center.  Since I have been dabbling in drawing and painting on my own for some time now, I think I am ready to take it to the next level and get some formal instruction.  We'll see how it goes.  Not expecting to be the next Rembrant.

Travels Here and There

More about me.  Since we lived in Germany for many years, we still have wander lust now that we are retired.  We have taken trips to Germany biking along the Rhein, Necker and Danue rivers.  I prefer to follow river beds since they tend to be flatter and more predictable.  We biked from Amsterdam to Basel and Frankfurt to Heidelburg along the Necker to the Danue and east. 

Last year we had a great trip on the rails around Italy.  Now we want to return next year.  Michael wantsw to run the three country marathon at Lake Constantine.  Then we would rent a place where we would have a home base and travel around from there.  If you want to know more about our travels and experiences let me know.  We can tell you the pros and cons about many places and mods of travel.

Today I had a good workout: hour run, weights, streching and a 20minute swim.  I try to get a 2 hour workout with varied activities.  Keeps me from getting bored and makes sure all muscles get some attention.  Swimming will be a great addition as long as the water does get too cold, since the pool isn't heated.  Brr!  But invigorating.

To be perfectly clear

Before I go any further, I think it will be important to establish something.  Since I was an educator for many years, you can assured that I do know how to compose a sentence and spell reasonably correctly.  However, since this is my Blog I have chosen to use poetic license in my writing.  So relax and don't worry about any errors.

Now that that has been taken care of I can now continue.  More about me.  Actually, I had wanted my husband, Michael, to write a Blog, but he didn't bite.  He has been running since the 70's and I figured he had some helpful information to share with fellow runners in their 60's.  So I figured the next best thing was for me to share my observations from the standpoint of a female 60's runner married to a m60'sr. 

We are snowbirds who have returned from our summer in Montana to our winter home in Florida.  Even tho I miss the beautiful, crisp fall weather for running, I do enjoy the lower altitude.  Sure makes running easier.  I do use the term Running for myself loosely.  Some  observers have said that I look  pained or that they could walk faster.  Right.  This comes from golfers who ride carts all day and never will take me up on a challenge.  A runner would never put down a fellow runner. I'm at the age where it isn't about " the look".  It is strictly about feeling good and aging gracefully.  I don't need mood pills or sleeping pills or diet pills or any of the other myriad pills. So golfers, put that on your golf cart and roll with it.

More about me

Not that I'm particularly clever, but I do do alot of thinking about things when I'm out for a run.  Such as who God really is?  What is the truth?  Is it what I think since I have a sense of being "right" as most people do. I do know that God is patient with me and gives me the space I need to figure "it" all out.

I have figured out alot about how to live a healthful and productive life after retirement.  So I will be sharing my receipes that I have modified to heathier versions of the good old fashion full fat, sugar, etc. varieties.  People think I'm a bit fanatic about it all, but then in the next breath they comment about how fit and healthy  I am.  Well, do they think it just happens?  Granted my dad lived to 101, but it isn't just genetics that get you this far.

My husband, Michael, was a runner when I met him and is still running marathons.  This helps keep me motivated and him appreciative of my healthful cooking. Not that Mc Donalds isn't still his favorite place to eat.

Hello Fellow Enthusiasts of Life

This is my first entry on my new blog.  I'm excited to begin sharing my musings about life and my reactions and observations as I go along.  You'll notice I call myself a sage.  At the age of 69 I think I have earned some rights to that title.  Not only do I feel I have done some things right, but I feel that much of my experience is worth sharing.  Even if no one reads my blog, at least I'll enjoy the experience.  Hope to hear from you in the future.