A Year to Remember (and Forget!)

 It's a year most of us would like to forget, including me.  It's almost over, only about 6 weeks more to go. Time to reflect a little on the Bad and the Ugly but also on the Good (there actually was some).

The worst, the absolute worst, is the (apparent) defeat of President Trump when everyone in the World knows he won the election in a landslide.  The theft of our sacred elections is nothing short of catastrophic on the level that dwarfs Watergate and even 9/11 and everything else I've witnessed in my seven decades.  I am sad and scared for the future.  

The second worst is of course the Covid epidemic.  Life will not be the same for some time and the effects will be felt for many years. 

The third worst is the wobbly semi-collapse of the Temple I finally came to think of as own.  It collapsed due to two factors - Covid (Zoom sessions don't cut it) and the Rabbi partially abdicating at a most inopportune time.  I am sad and well, very sad.

So now what?  On to the positives.  We are both still healthy (good test results), Covid free (Thank God), and still solvent.  I lost the pesky few pounds that bothered me and have better eating habits.  I've dumped the horrible habit of listening to the news all day and have taken up golf and exercising at MVP (believe it or not).  There are potential new friends on the horizon and fun neighbors who want to play golf, games and Mah Jongg. 

The best advice I can give myself as it concerns the bad/sad parts of 2020 - This Too Shall Pass.

My Election Day Prayer

Lord, we ask Thee for such an Overwhelming, Landslide Victory for President Trump that even the Fake News Media will have to Declare him Victorious Tonight. May it be obvious to all that Thy hand is upon President Trump and that You have brought the Victory.

Amen

 

Goals Plus

 

I did it! After years of "trying" I achieved my (admittedly small but satisfying) weight loss goal and believe I am on track to maintain this (admittedly small) success.  So it's time to consider my next Big Goal.  Should I volunteer to be a poll watcher? Join a new "lifestyle club" that may open up again next month? Get myself back to the fitness club for chair exercise? Plan a Grand Voyage (or short vacation) for 2021 or 2022? Binge watch another TV series?  Read an entire book (not just skim it)?

Go back to bed?

It's my Birthday!

 

How did I get to be so old??  😆

How grateful I am for my wonderful life, my incredible husband, our health and good life in wonderful Florida. I truly am in a "magical cycle".  My weight is perfect (finally) and yes, I feel I have "let go of the habits and fearful concerns that once held me back". 

The only Libra and Capricorn I feel "adore me" are my Mother and Father.  Are they looking out for me from above?  

Happy Birthday to me!

Today's Horoscope

 

My horoscope today feels spot on.  After a long quest (years) I have finally knocked off the pesky pounds that have prevented me from feeling 100% good about myself.  I used the tried and true method of 1) carefully counting calories and 2) being patient.  

So today portends to be a good day.  The pain from my tooth surgery seems to have finally subsided and my new $4.50 jeans fit and feel great.  I am grateful for the peace agreement with Israel and the UAE and pray the future holds more positive steps and a second Trump administration. We will soon celebrate our upcoming anniversary and I hope we can look forward to new opportunities and friends.

A good day...

Rosh Chodesh

Last night I attended the virtual Rosh Chodesh celebration hosted by our Rebbitzin.  It is a spiritual, almost sacred, assembly of women only and is dedicated to renewal and sharing.  I love the mystical quality of the gathering and the fact that it is tied to the cycles of the moon.  It started with a quiet meditation, a lit candle and a short story, and moved on to a topic we could discuss - infusing spirituality into the most mundane of household chores.

This is one activity that is easier for me since the Coronavirus hit - it usually takes place with the ladies meeting in person.  I will miss it if they no longer use Zoom when the pandemic is over (soon I pray).

Home is in the Kitchen

My annual "Home is in the Kitchen" calendar arrived today.  It joins the other seven - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 - in my "collection".   I actually had no intention of amassing all these calendars (I just save the envelopes they came in - they have every month shown on the back).  I just needed something that would cover the big gray side of our stainless steel refrigerator and go nicely with our black, red and gold kitchen motif.  But now their cheerful monthly messages are a family tradition and the growing stack of the calendars' envelopes reminds me of how quickly time flies.

And of course, the artist is correct, home is indeed in the kitchen. Good Food!  Good Life!

They Persisted

I watched the four hour PBS series "The Vote", four hours that documented failure after failure, setback after setback, ridicule, beatings, arrests, and even torture that spanned seven decades.  Unbelievable.  A testament to incredible women who, one hundred years ago next month, gave the gift of liberty, democracy and power to half the population of the United States.

Women took The Vote less than thirty years before I was born.  Yet even as a child I believed I could do anything in life that I wanted.  I owe these women, many of whom did not live to see their dream fulfilled, an enormous debt of gratitude.

I will remember them when I proudly cast my vote in November.

Forgive Yourself

My horoscope today was about forgiveness although that word was never mentioned.  I am normally not a big proponent of forgiveness (not even on Yom Kippur) but luckily my rather short memory span allows me to forget a lot of things.  I believe the hardest thing for me, or anyone, is to forgive ourselves. So this little blurb in today's paper was most welcome.

I do have a few silly things I wish I hadn't done or said and I have many more things I wish I had said or done.  A top regret?  I wish I had asked my grandparents and parents for more stories about their lives.  

With a softened heart, I think I will try to forgive myself.

Death Takes A Holiday

Death Takes A Holiday - both the 1934 original and the 1971 remake - has always been one of my favorites.  But yesterday's Fourth of July version became my Number One when I saw the death tolls from the coronavirus top out at 254 (17 in Florida!).

I know you cannot just count on one day's tally but the death trend does seem to be stabilizing.  I will take any good news on the pandemic at this point.  

Did we not have the staff on duty to count all the bodies yesterday?  Does hydroxychloroquine actually work?  Or did Death really decide to give us a small break for the 4th? 

2020

OK so 2020 is not the great year it promised to be in December 2019.  We are only halfway through and yet we know the rest of the year does not look like it will be a big improvement.  Even without an alien invasion or asteroid we can count on more protests after the November election and lingering effects of the economic meltdown and coronavirus pandemic.  

On the bright side, hubby and I are still happy and healthy (Thank God) and still financially sound.  We live in Paradise (without it actually BEING Paradise 😉) and we have a few good friends, great godchildren, a nice Temple, and a classy new car on the horizon.  A little gratitude always helps get us through the tough times (and we've  conquered much tougher ones). 

Still, I can't help but wish that 2021 was here already...

The Street Where I Live

As I perused the morning paper I glanced at the "New Homes and Villas" offered by The Villages in our newest section, an area I think of as The Wilderness.

I have long surmised that The Villages has run out of attractive names for their new streets but now I am sure of it.  The new homes are located on streets with names like "Rebusmen", "Polacheck", "Feulner" "Lazkowski" and "Hickey".  I am sure the ladies and gentlemen for whom these streets are named (I'm assuming The Villages' planners did not make them up) are extremely deserving of this honor but I confess, there would be No Way I would want their names to be on my return address stickers.

The clincher for one home we purchased was when I asked the salesperson what will be the name of the street of the lot we were looking at.  When he said "Live Oak Terrace" I was hooked.  Ah, the beautiful image of soft Southern breezes and shady sweetness.  Likewise, we now live on a street whose name reminds us of the English countryside or the gentle city in Georgia where some great movies were filmed.

Plus I have the Live Oak tree I always wanted!

The Plus

"If you aren’t getting happier as you’re getting older, you’re doing it wrong."

I am eagerly awaiting this new book by Greg Gutfeld.  It sounds like it will be a different take on the zillions of self-help books out there. 

It says it's "self-help for people who hate self-help".  Now honestly, who would hate self-help?  Doesn't everyone want to help themselves? If you don't help yourself who will?? 

I do indeed find myself getting happier as I get older so I guess I am doing something right.  If I make it another 20 years to 90 I should be ecstatic all the time!

Goals

It's been a week since I started using PoundAWeek to track my calories and I am so proud of myself.  I have 4 pounds to go to reach my goal.

One "trick" I have found helpful is to replace food favorites with items with lower calorie counts. I have lower calorie bread, English muffins, egg substitutes, cheese, chicken and turkey breast, sausages (hubby found them), salad dressing, salmon filets and lox. 

Yay Me!

Self Tanning

I had good luck with self tanning about ten years ago so I decided to try it again this summer.  I had a tiny bout with a skin carcinoma around the same time and have been avoiding real sun bathing since.  But my (masses of) old white wrinkly skin, especially on my pale legs, inspired me to dig out the 10 year old can of L'Oreal's  Sublime Bronze spray.

I must admit, it is easy and quick and the result surpasses my rather low expectations.  The can says it's best used within 6 months of purchase but obviously that is a falsehood, hahaha. 

Just point and shoot!

Summer Reading List

	The Summer House by James Patterson A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein by Alana Goodman Fair Warning by Michael Connelly Camino Winds by John Grisham Walk the Wire by David Baldacci The Last Trial by Scott Turow Thin Girls: A Novel by Diana Clarke The Plus: Self-Help for People Who Hate Self-Help  by Greg Gutfed

Pound A Week

Tired of get-thin-quick diet fads?  Strange restrictions on foods or times you can eat?  Ready to go back to the tried and true method of counting your f***g calories?  Here's a new take on the old standby.

I found this friendly app when I decided to lose those pesky five pounds slowly.  I guess if you can think it there's an app for that.  

Here's the "new take":  You get a weekly allotment of calories and you can only weigh in once a week (saving you from daily angst).  You can rollover your uneaten calories to the following days of the week which means if you have a "bad day" you will not immediately fall into self flagellation and depression and quit immediately; you have a calorie "bank" to draw on. You can re-launch the whole app if you need a true fresh start.  The calorie database seems robust and I even was able to use the scan feature to add my bread choice.  And one really nice feature is the rotating motivational messages which I find to be not corny but actually helpful. 

"One pound at a time" is my favorite.

Self Care Cards Part Deux

A few days ago I mentioned my new set of "Self Care Cards - a set of (24) self care cards with feel good activities and reminders to put yourself first".  So every day I've been drawing out another one to remind myself to feel good.  I've watched a kitten video, browsed a bookstore, watched a movie, ate takeout and today I'll call an old friend. 

I'm inspired to make my own cards (actually a list) of other ideas.  Can I get to 24?

1.   Color my grays

2.   Polish my toes

3.   Turn off the TV

4.   Have a cup of coffee

5.   Stick to my diet

6.   Throw out an unloved item  in my closet

7.   Run through my gratitude list

8.   Clean something

9.   Light a candle

10. Light some incense

11. Look out the window

12. Take your vitamins

13. Write in Dear Diary

14. DVR an upcoming show

15. Balance the checkbook

16. Put on my "good clothes"

17. Re-read a good book

18. Look at our wedding album

19. Check Facebook news

20. Bath with eucalyptus salts

21. Play solitaire

22. Make the bed

23. Say a prayer

24. Kiss hubby ❤

Healing Through Chant

People sitting around their computer screens and chanting in Hebrew for peace and healing.  Quite an image.  I guess it's a sign of the times how much folks are yearning to connect with other people and are trying to overcome the challenges of 2020. It actually did help and I really hope more sessions are coming.  

We need a lot of healing...

This Is Me (now)

I noticed that the picture I labelled "This Is Me", shown below, when I started blogging in 2011, no longer looks that much like me. I don't really want to update it - I'd rather preserve it as a reminder who I was when I started Dear Diary.

The above is a rather nice and more recent picture of me now.  Nine years later and we are in a different place, both of us retired, with different concerns and interests and hobbies, in a different home and with a different social circle.  

Of course, I still wonder who exactly "this is me" really is...

Yoga

I bought a set of "self care cards" -  24 tips for "feel good activities and reminders to put yourself first".  The first is "what do I need to do to take better care of myself?".  I put "yoga" on that list.  

I am the most un-physical person imaginable but I did (sort of) enjoy the one yoga class I took at the MVP club (free membership comes with our new 2020 health insurance).  I even bought a new yoga mat and block as the free equipment usually available is available no longer due to the coronavirus.  I had to make an appointment online to attend the limited access class today.

It has been a rough two and half months and current events promise even more national angst.  Hubby and I have had it better than most being retired and not worried about layoffs or financial ruin.  But yoga sounds like a much needed fun and peaceful activity.

A good first step to taking better care of myself...

Toilet Paper

I admit it, I have always been a fan of toilet paper and always had a little extra put away.  I never gave this much thought until the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020.

Of course it makes sense.  Toilet Paper is a Great Necessity and although we can make do with different kinds of food and other essentials, there is truly no viable substitute for toilet paper.

People are staying home more so the paper we would normally use in stores and offices is sitting idle.  I see that there is beginning to be a little more in the stores - I guess folks have finally stored enough to last them for months.

I know I have!

Meditation

The Rebbetzin did a powerful guided meditation about standing at the bottom of a mountain and looking to your left and right and seeing not only your ancestors at Mt. Sinai but also the millions of their descendants right up to Anne Frank and Jerry Seinfield and your own grandmother. Millions of people throughout all of time, all there together.

I found this image deeply moving and powerful beyond belief.  In this incredibly disturbing time of Coronavirus and our cities being destroyed by protestors/thugs, I yearn for better days ahead.  A little guided meditation helps...

Tonya

Lots of people on Twitter and Facebook are asking "do you even KNOW anyone who has Covid-19?" 

Well up until yesterday I didn't and I still don't, really.  But yesterday I learned that this young woman, the daughter-in-law of someone we used to attend a former Temple with, passed away from the coronavirus.

Curiosity (morbid?) had me check her out on Facebook.  She was only 42 and was a Nurses' Assistant or perhaps a LPN.  She wanted to work with the elderly and had just got a new nursing job a few months ago.  She had only been married a few years and called her husband her "best friend". Her last post was only 3 weeks ago and she sounded happy.

I had *almost* convinced myself the virus was in the past, not so bad, maybe overblown.

Today, not so much.

Black Tops

 

My motto: One can never have too many black tops.  

I picked up two this week and am always on the look out for more.  They make dressing relatively easy and work well with jeans, leggings or skirts.  They make you look a little thinner or at least not conspiciously bigger. You can spend a little on them and still look well-off.  Best of all, they hide dirt and most stains.

I am a practical gal.  

GMorning, GNight

The sub title of this little book is "little pep talks for me and you".   I like that - the author says he's writing these "little pep talks" mostly for himself.

I'm in the mood to give myself little pep talks.  Can you blame me?  The world has been basically shut down for 2+ months and life is far from normal.  Social interaction has ground to a halt - no Temple services (except online), no Mah Jongg (I am sure I have forgotten how to play), no dinners out with friends, and a general feeling of "what can I do today?".

Here's a  good one from the book:

The world changes.
The ground shifts.
We still make plans.
We still find gifts.
GMorning.

Virtual Seder

Well, last night was a first, a virtual Seder with the Rabbi and with other members of the congregation.  It left a bit to be desired but was still beautiful.  Some things do not change, like the spilled wine on the beautiful matzo cover a friend made for me in 2012.  Luckily "Wine Out" did the trick.

As always, none of my dishes managed to be at the right temperature at the right time.  But our homemade soup and chopped liver were delicious.  Best of all the wine (only had one cup not four) made everything, even the many computer snafus, go down easier.

Chag Pesach Sameach!

A Different Kind of Diary

This is my new daily burden/chore/compulsion - checking the toll the Coronavirus has placed on my country and the world.  The biggest scary number is of course in red, New Deaths. As of last night some folks think we (the states and the world) may be stabilizing, that is, not getting worse. 

Because I can't find day-over-day totals, I am screen printing and saving every day's final totals. 

And praying of course.

On This Day in History

Just so I NEVER forget..... April 3, 2020

Gas price a mile from home was $1.73.

Self-distancing measures on the rise.

Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.

Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.

Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.

Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.

Entire sports seasons cancelled.

Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.

Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.

Churches and temples are closed.

No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 10 or less.

Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.

Children's outdoor play parks are closed. Schools are online.

We are to distance from each other.

Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.

Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.

Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.

Shelves are bare.

Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.

Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.

Fines are established for breaking the rules.

Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.

Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.

Government incentives to stay home.

Barely anyone on the roads.

People wearing masks and gloves outside.

Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.

Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020. One day I will see this post and remember that life is precious and not to take the things I dearly love for granted. We have so much! I'm thankful and grateful.

My Coronavirus Plan

It's a scary time, even for those who have seen lots of other scary times in our lives.  This time seems like a different kind of scary, mainly I think because everyone is so affected, if not physically (hopefully), at least financially and "lifestyle" wise.

Every day I wake up and check that hubby and me are still 1) not feverish 2) not coughing and 3) breathing normally.  I take my vitamins, especially tons of vitamin C, along with zinc and silver spray.  I eat eggs everyday for protein and other good stuff.  We stay inside except for trips to the grocery and mailbox.  As of yesterday, we started wearing masks (from hubby's woodworking projects) and latex gloves to the store. 

Home activities: cleaning with alcohol based homemade cleaners, watching the news (mostly bad), Trump's Coronavirus task force briefings, Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Peace

When it comes to Big Decisions, I defer to this adage. Like a recent decision to rebalance our finances, made not only because of the scary unknown that is the Coronavirus Pandemic, but also because we are getting older and have a shorter window to make up losses.

We have ridden the stock market's ups and downs for 35 years.  Hubby says we are ahead of where we'd be had we only invested in CD's but I am not so sure.  Whatever we may have gained in actual dollars, I weigh against the worry and daily monitoring of a fickle market. I am definitely a "sure thing" kind of girl.

I welcome the new peace in my life, no matter how expensive it may be.  

Coronavirus Pep Talk

You could tell from her Facebook post this morning that goddaughter Laura was stressing out a bit from the quarantine/shelter-in-place/stay at home requirements.  Who wouldn't stress with 3 children home from school for weeks and all of their seemingly hundreds of missed activities?  A pep talk was in order for her, and of course, even I could use one about now hahaha.  

Here it is and her response definitely cheered me up too. 

Rashi Wine

OK, I mentioned I don't drink alcohol but since finding this delicious light red wine named for my 26th great grandfather I am hooked!  It's made in New York State and has a low alcohol content (6%, is that good?).  

Since I hear a little red wine is good for you, I am adding about 4 ounces a day to my new (still trying!) diet plan. I have looked it up and the light pink is only 40 calories per 4 ounces.  Who knows?  And with this Coronavirus stress a little mind numbing may be an added benefit.

The bottle has a lovely story about my ancestor which I also appreciate.  Worth an hour and a half trip to Tampa to procure it at Jo-elle's!

It Works If You Work It

The full line of the AA adage is: It works if you work it and you’re worth it. 

This is Day 4 of my self-care challenge and I am happy with the results.  Vitamins ✔ Eating "real" meals ✔

I won't say it has been completely easy.  I have been tempted.  Luckily, just as I was about to give in I was called away to a chore or diversion.  

I'm trying hard.  One Day At A Time.

I'm Worth It!

Self Care Day Two

Today is Day Two of my self care challenges - take my vitamins and improve crappy eating habits.  Improvement on crappy eating habits includes eliminating sugar and flour, and eating "real" meals, not just snacking all day.  

Eliminating sugar and flour leaves veggies, fruit, chicken, fish, oatmeal, cheese and eggs. I like that stuff so I am planning on SUCCESS!

Self care also means eliminating stress and I have accomplished a big hunk of stress-elimination when I convinced hubby to finally get out of the stock market.  No more watching the Dow fluctuate every day, an activity that has driven me cray-cray for the past 40 years or so.  

Journaling is also bigly recommended for self care.  So I'll add continuing my Dear Diary as my number 3 challenge!

The Self Care Solution

I haven't blogged for years (3+) but staying home as much as possible due to the restrictions of the Coronovirus pandemic has inspired me to start again.

Thankfully the cold I had suffered for over a week subsided last week and it was, happily, just a cold.  I admit I was a tad worried.  

If it weren't for the horrible situation the world finds itself I admit I could stay happily at home with hubby for most of the time.  It is peaceful and I admit I am never bored.  There is Prime Video, Netflix, books, bathtub, household chores and the internet.  The day goes by so quickly!  

However, I have decided not to waste this opportunity for self reflection and self improvement.  I am reading "The Self Care Solution - a year of becoming happier, healthier and fitter" by Dr. Jennifer Ashton.  Her twelve months of improvements are not the twelve challenges I would pick for myself though.

I do not need a "dry month" as I don't drink alcohol and I am surely not about to start doing "push ups and planks" (whatever that is).  So I have made a list of my own challenges.

First up, TAKE MY VITAMINS!  I credit them with feeling better the last two weeks and licking my hard-to-defeat cold.

Next up, REGULAR MEALS!  No more crappy eating habits!  More on this tomorrow.