Midweek Musings, My Top 10 Birthday Realizations

In honor of yet another birthday that makes me older, I am grateful for people who love me and want to make me feel special. The event was last weekend. My mom cooked for me and got an awesome cake, my boyfriend gave me multiple gifts and a wonderful day, and my son gave me the gift I picked out.

With all my years, I must be especially wise now, right? So, for anyone still reading, here are some things I’ve learned:

1. I heard somewhere that bangs are a poor woman’s Botox. I find this to be true. Sure, they’ll grow out and you’ll have to adjust, but it’s worth it. Try it!

2. Wearing more makeup as you age doesn’t make you look younger. It makes you look fake. With a lot of eye makeup comes the removal process. Rubbing off eye shadow with cotton balls always makes my under- eye bags much worse the next day. That’s not the Smoky eye I want!

3. Find a cheap gym where you’ll see young and old alike. The young men are great to look at, and the old men will make you feel like you’re young and gorgeous!

4. Eyelashes are much less prominent with passing year. I always use clear mascara except for special occasions. I want an eyelash growth serum that doesn’t break the bank or cause irritation. Any suggestions?

5. A good eyebrow pencil is a must!

6. I tried the strategy of dying my hair darker and loved the look, but my hair looked thinner when the roots grew out. Never again. Highlights and lowlights for me!

7. Hobbies are a must, even when working towards retirement. I’m trying, but it’s not always easy. We’re in a world where employers are constantly asking for more from us. I have to say no sometimes.

8. I find I use concealer more and more each year. It is my friend.

9. The best makeup look is a well-rested face. Fight against the pull of the rat-race!

10. Find yourself a friend, partner, date, etc who is constantly willing to try new places and activities with you. I believe that novelty can still create wonder. Nonchalance and believing you have seen it all or even know it all really makes a person seem old.

Well, I’ve put off the rat-race long enough. It’s time to take my morning vitamins and slap on the industrial-strength concealer in preparation for my workday. I hope you all have a good one!

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Weekend Coffee Share, Self-Care

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I was up at 7:30 enjoying my chai tai and cereal with fruit. I’d planned on doing cardio in the morning, before my 10:00 a.m. hair appointment. In all honesty, that didn’t happen.

Perhaps it was lack of ambition or lack of motivation, but I was achy and tired, so I gave myself a pass. Not to worry, I had a healthy lunch and did 25 minutes of yoga before going to my later massage appointment. Self-care Saturday, it is, and I’m worth it!

I got my highlights and lowlights and had my salonist style my hair. There are always good conversations with my hair stylist; she and I are around the same age. She has been my hair stylist for more than ten years!

The massage salon I go to is only about 5 minutes away, so the Saturday traffic couldn’t stress me out. I always go for an hour. It truly relaxes me. Just Google the benefits of massage, and it mentions “reduction of tension in the muscles,” in addition to the relaxation I mentioned. I need that tension reduction. My muscles get sore quite often, randomly it seems inordinate to the amount of stress I currently have, it seems.

Such is why I’ve gone to a specialist. I go back to her in two months. I’ve also made an appointment with a practitioner for acupuncture. Yes, I’m trying something new! I look forward to sharing about it.

Tonight, my boyfriend and I are planning to go get dinner. Thai is our plan. ( It’s one of my favorite foods)! We’ll have to dodge rain first!

Day 16, A Day in My Life. #RRBC

Welcome to Day 16, A Day in My Life, Tues. Jan. 17th.

Today I got back to work .

Being around my dad this weekend got me to thinking about when I was a child, and the dream I had of my childhood home. Which reminded me of this post that I found on Facebook one day and just loved:

Dad’s significant other is very youthful and has a great sense of humor! She at times makes a good amount of noise, reminding me of an energetic child. I love her smile and energy. I want to age that way, embracing youthful laughter and behavior.

Patsy is a published poet, as I mentioned yesterday. She has a YouTube channel, and this is one of her videos: https://youtu.be/mZ7TCZgikXo

I’ve ordered one of her poetry books (Cut on the Bias), and she said she is in the process of getting another published, though I can’t recall the title.

I’m feeling tired right now, and it’s not even 8 p.m. The workday presented some challenges in the shape of middle school attitude, so I drew up some new seating charts. The News and Podcast Club met after school, so that was a good end to the day. A few kids were absent, but those who were there, want to be there. We did the podcast in the same room, so I got to observe it. The kids sounded great!

I met Chris for dinner, and of course he made me laugh! He’ll be meeting me, my son, and my dad Thursday evening for dinner at Longhorn, which has something for everyone.

It’s the end of my day, and I’m tired, but it’s a good feeling. I gave it my best today, and that’s the best anyone can do! Have a good evening, everyone.

Weekend Coffee Share, Fall Frenzy

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. It’s a day for matcha green tea, since yesterday was my half-caff day. I am sticking to the green tea routine with coffee as a treat maybe twice a week. Sleep is more important to me these days.

The weather report was promising rain, but the sun has been peaking in and then fading out this morning. I think rain will come later. My week was so busy, I hardly had time to read, and writing seems to be just sporadic these days. This pandemic and my teaching job seem to cause a special kind of stress, and since I’ve dealt with stress a long time in my own ways, this was also a week for sciatica and on/off back pain. I may have to get back to using the Curable app or at least following meditations on Youtube. Yes, I have been the kind of person who internalizes stress or anxiety and holds in anger or resentment. I’ve been trying to deal with it, but then, sometimes I get too busy.

I can tell myself I have an important job, and that I am making a difference, but I have to maintain the downtime for myself. This is most noticeable with the Back-to School swing. I had summer off and dealt with a lot of things in my life, so now I’m busy again. This weekend is a respite. I saw my (new/old flame) boyfriend last night for a delicious Italian dinner, and today I am getting a pedicure. Outdoor time may be in order, since the sun is holding steady currently. I’m still relaxing after breakfast, though.

There is not much that’s interesting to share except that I’ve been enjoying my students in the Newspaper Club, who write about what they want and accept editing suggestions gracefully; boy, do they ever love to write! It’s refreshing. I’m sponsoring the Yearbook Club, and we’ll start meeting and get geared up on the 27th. Work was been hectic with grades due last Friday and then an online Open House in the evening this past Tuesday. I’m working on time-management and have a true need to work-smarter-not-harder.

I’ve been reading a fiction book about Bigfoot. I may explore the whole series, it’s kind of interesting. Books have to catch my attention these days, and it is easier for them to lose me, a result likely of the pandemic, all that is going on, and maybe because of my age and how I handle my stress and responsibilities. As I said, writing is sporadic, but last week I posted a poem in response to the Ragtag Daily prompt. View it here: https://pamelascanepa.wordpress.com/2021/09/11/a-kaleidoscope-rdp/

This morning, I received a notification from a genealogy site I belong to called Family Search. I used to be all into that sort of thing; I have a lot of family lines from different places and love knowing ‘where I’m from’ and about my ancestors. My paternal aunt lives in Utah and has been very active in searching those family roots and introduced me to Family Search. All I have today is photos, one from mom’s side and an ancestor from the Denmark line, and one from my dad’s line from the Johnston’s, a relative from England but of a line that could be also Scottish.

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  From my mom’s side, surname Leedahl and Johnson.

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  From Dad’s side, surname Johnston.

I love looking at these old photographs. I haven’t been as active in searching these things as I was in 2013, but they send me hints, so I know I have some living relatives who are cataloging and collecting, so it is very worthwhile for me to belong to such a site. I used to try to construct the background stories of my ancestors. I think that’s what got me started in writing fiction. Historical fiction is also very interesting to me.

Well, I had plans and ideas for today, but I don’t stick to a constrained schedule on Saturdays, except that there’s a 3:00 appointment for the pedicure. I hope you all have a great week!

Weekend Coffee Share, Another Year

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share,  hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Having been fortunate enough to sleep in this morning,  I am drinking hazelnut half-caff this morning! Pull up a chair and your favorite beverage. I decided on Kraugbin for our musical cafe ambience this morning.

I’ll regale you with my wisdom. Heh, scratch that. How about tales of my topsy-turvy life and how I’m managing? Though I’m not a fan of reality lately,  I sure won’t let it defeat me. I’ll let it throw its punches and I’ll fight back. All metaphorically, of course.  You can tell me about your life lately.

If you don’t know me, I’ll just tell you I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder 1.5 years ago. I am no longer ashamed of this.  Being a writer, blogger, etc., I am in a place to share about myself in ways that may help others or that may simply connect me with other like-minded individuals.  Holding it in prevents many opportunities for me to be myself, encourage others, and to be honest about my life.  In fact, holding things in has shut me down in many ways throughout my life.  That is no longer my MO. I’ve been dealing with the anxiety, and I got through the pandemic as well as teaching middle schoolers; then suddenly, around my son’s twenty-fifth birthday,  two important people in my life have left my life.

It is my birthday today, and two days ago I felt I didn’t have the energy to even acknowledge it.  I am not ashamed to say that.  I am a human being with emotions.  However, I’m determined to always survive the storm.

So, I decided to just indulge in some of my favorite things this weekend.

Mom and I started by going out for Thai food and a glass of wine. A church friend, also a Gemini, invited me to her house for steamed crab and salad for lunch today.  I invited my mom, and neighbor, and a co-worker, another empty-nester mom for dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant.  Tomorrow, I shall take my dog to the dog park, something that always fills me with joy whether there are people there or not.  If there are other people there, they are dog-people, the best kind ever!

I feel good about my health, fitness, and my habits. I feel good in the skin I’m in!  Though I still struggle with pain at times, I don’t let it stop me.  In fact, the summer I was told I had arthritis, 8 years ago, was a summer I spent on the couch reading a 1,000 page book.  Of course, I still do read, but I mix it up with movement or using the phone Kindle while on my porch exerciser.

So, my life is just slightly topsy-turvy, but I still know what are my favorite things and have the means to fill my life with them, as well as being surrounded by positive people that encourage me constantly!

I’m getting ready soon to have that lunch with a fellow Gemini, and Mediterranean food later. It promises to be fun and life-affirming!

Have a great weekend, all!

Weekend Coffee Share. Acceptance, part 536

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at eclecticali.wordpress.com. Grab your favorite beverage and grab a chair so we can chat! I’m havng a Medium roast with vanilla creamer myself.

I survived another teaching week in the time of COVID. I’ve been taking the mask off more as I sit behind my desk shield, distanced, just so the students can hear me. It’s so important to be heard clearly in order to teach and for them to appreciate me as human, just like them, and important to me for them to know I’m willing to bring humor and enjoyment to difficult situations or learning goals.

Yesterday, it got through to them. A few kids laughed with me. I gave another the elbow-bump-hug when it seemed he needed it. It’s not a real hug, but I told him, remember the COVID distance rules. Relating to them in this distanced time and teaching with a mask on is challenging and sometimes I feel like my efforts suck….but yesterday, I felt like I succeeded. Funny how scared I was to be teaching amongst middle schoolers and the germs they can pass, but now I am concerned about how the experience is affecting them. We have to accept this situation we’re in, but I don’t want them to feel alone, scared to laugh, or even scared to talk.

Facebook almost gave me some tears this morning:

These sentiments still ring true, as my son has worked steadily as a mechanic for a year. “You will find your own way and I will admire you for that. Thank you, Facebook memories .

Ah, Facebook memories. Let’s not forget what we’ve come through or what has shaped us. I learned so much about acceptance as a parent. Yes, “You will find your own way and I will admire you for it.”

Way back when…. circa 2088. ❤

I’ve struggled this week with my digestive issue, something I was diagnosed with in 2009. I ate so little for lunch last Saturday that I pigged out on Mexican food Saturday night. It was fun and tasty, but I suffered for a week. I feel like Icarus who flew too close to the sun. Except I can get back to my healthy diet and not suffer now. I’ll save my gusto for ax-throwing and the rock-climbing gym, both 4 month goals for me. I’m still faithfully doing regular workouts for my arms and shoulder in addition to the cardio three times weekly. I have goals, and I’ll get there!

Today is a hair dresser day, so I can hopefully enjoy easily styling again for a few months. You may notice above that the hair has gotten unruly. I don’t go with a tame look, but it does need to be easier to fix in the morning. I haven’t finished my workouts for the day, but I will after my appointment! Thanks for joining me for this coffee chat, and have a great week!

“A Girl Turns 50,” Top Ten Wishlist

Photo taken, 1991 at Royal Gorge, Colorado.  The way I still see myself….

On this, my fifitieth birthday, I have ten wishes.  If nothing else, they’re good for a laugh.  Maybe you can identify?  I don’t know how am I fifty, anyway.  Where does the time go?

My Ten Fiftieth Birthday Wishes:

1. Stick on eyebrows that won’t come off or irritate my skin when I take them off… I haven’t tried the stick-ons because I’m afraid.  That, and I’d suddenly look completely fake. Seriously though, where’d the eyebrows go?  Maybe a temporary tattoo of eyebrows would be better, because there’s no way I’d do a permanent eyebrow tatt, what if it went wrong?
2. Eye make-up that applies itself.  Honestly, who has time for eyeliner?  Though the eye shadow can hide some wrinkles, I still only have time for it 1-2 days a week.
3.  An extra pair of hands that will do all the typing I want.  They’ll respond to my every wish, but I will never feel their pain.
4. A button on my shower that will emit lotion water.  Does that exist?  Well, it should.  Adjust your shower so it only hits you below the chin to avoid the eyes and mouth.
5. Shoes that will massage your feet with every step.  Come on, that is not unrealistic!  Somebody needs to make this!
6. For my favorite dress shirts to all be also available in cotton.  It absorbs sweat much more nicely than those other materials.  I could wear something other than t-shirts comfortably.
7. A portable fan you can sit on your shoulder like a parrot.  It should be lightweight, too.  When a wave of sudden heat hits a gal, sometimes it shows up immediately on the face.  Just push the button and start the fan!  Everyone close by will benefit as well!
8. Compression pants with extra padding at the hips and the rear area, for when you have to attend meetings sitting on hard chairs after a full day at work, yet you’d rather be on your couch with the feet up.  There should be some magnetic magic in the hip area for those of us with joint issues or arthritis.  Supposedly that helps.
9. A new law to limit the cost of all band concerts so that I can afford to go to more of them every year.  Indoor/ outdoor, it doesn’t matter.  Music makes everything better and my budget isn’t growing much yearly.
10. Something to drink on a long flight that will not upset my stomach.  Is there such a thing?  Travel is just not as comfortable as it used to be.  We need to fix that!

Oops, I’m at ten already.  I’m sure I could think of more, for instance, making every workplace dog-friendly and immediately lowering stress levels of all (well most) employees.  However, I promised ten, and ten puls a half is all you will get this time.  Just wait until I turn sixty!

Here I am, a year ago, in the finest Jimi Hendricks t-shirt of cotton, very little eye make-up, and subtle eyebrows.  (Subtle, LOL)…You’re right, I don’t want to act like a middle-aged woman!