Life

Flip Flops, Snowboots and Mucinex – These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Posted on December 4, 2014 by queenbookworm

When we left our home in Florida the day before Thanksgiving it was 89 degrees and sunny. We closed up the house, turned the air-conditioner to 80 and made sure the pool was clean & shocked then jumped in the car and drove 550 miles to Atlanta to have Thanksgiving with our daughter’s family where we picked up the flu before jumping in the car to drive the last 750 miles to our cottage in Tawas, Michigan.

Flip flops and Go Walks

So I wore my flip flops from Florida to Atlanta, then as my feet got cold, I switched to my enclosed Go Walks by Skechers. If you don’t have a pair of Go Walks for everyday use, do yourself a favor and buy some. They’re like walking on air. As we got farther north I added a pair of socks with my Go Walks and started coughing & sneezing. We stopped early in Kentucky because I was such a hot mess and was begging for Mucinex and Delsym cough medicine. So,there’s three recommendations in one paragraph — Go Walks for your feet, Mucinex for your nose and Delsym for your cough. Isn’t there an old joke about being built backwards, “my feet smell and my nose runs”?

By the time we got to our cottage in Tawas, Michigan we were both hacking & snorting & shivering & feverish and spent the first two days doing the flu shuffle …. from the bed to the chair in front of the fireplace to the sofa to the bathroom & back to bed. My ensemble was flannel pajamas and woolen socks.

Water proof snow boots and leather hiking boots

Today I finally was well enough to go outside and walk down to our little beach on Tawas Bay on Lake Huron. I wore my waterproof boots because it snowed yesterday. I saw raccoon and deer tracks in the snow and the frozen sand, the sun was shining in a blue sky and you’d never know it was 19 degrees.

So that’s my 1,300 mile footwear travelogue. I enjoyed every step.

Our little beach on Tawas Bay, Lake Huron

Categories: Family, Health, Life, Travel, Uncategorized | Tags: Delsym, flip flops, Go Walk, Lake Huron, Mucinex, snow boots, Tawas Bay, Tawas MI | Leave a comment

OMG! DI Justin Ripley was killed in “Luther” & I Want to Change the Ending …

Posted on November 18, 2014 by queenbookworm

Idris Elba as DCI John Luther

I’m sure you already knew … but I just finished watching Season 2 of “Luther”, the best British psychological crime drama I’ve seen on TV. The suspense is so unsettling that a portion of each episode is viewed through my partially covered eyes or by watching my husband’s face and asking him to tell me what happened. Even he jumps occasionally. I did not believe that the bad guy, a vigilante, would shoot Ripley since Justin Ripley was the most loyal, brave, honest, proud “copper” on the show and the only true friend to Luther. However, a shotgun blast to the chest ended all that. There was no hope of heroic medical intervention, that it was a bad dream or any of the other techniques used to assure our favorite characters survive certain death. Luther’s anguish – when he laid down beside his dead friend – finished me off. I’ve been dwelling on Ripley’s death thinking that he should have backed off and not confronted the killer.

DI Justin Ripley R.I.P.

Do you ever do that … wish that you could change the ending of a story? I’ve read “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier and “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte again and again trying to tell the heroines to grow a backbone and claim their loves. I talk out loud to many of Charles Dickens’ characters attempting to tell them who to trust and I won’t even tell you about my conversations with Stephen King’s victims. There would be far fewer casualties if they would listen when I warn them not to open a certain door, or go down the basement stairs, or turn down a dark alley. I try, but no one listens.

So, I will watch the final season (Season 3) of “Luther” and hope that he straightens out his personal life, triumphs over the internal police investigation, rids London of more murderous psychos, and re-establishes his strange and dangerous relationship with Alice. He will have to do it all without his faithful side-kick, Justin, which makes me sad.

Please don’t tell me the ending.

Categories: Family, Life, Uncategorized | Tags: Idris Elba, Jane Eyre, John Luther, Justin Ripley, Luther, Rebecca, Stephen King, suspense, tv dramas | Leave a comment

A Two Mile Walk in Paradise vs An Hour at the Gym

Posted on November 14, 2014 by queenbookworm

I can’t tell you how much $$ I’ve spent on gym memberships. I hated every minute I spent in them after being cooped up in an office for 8-10 hours. I am grateful that I can now walk or hike whenever and wherever I want in order to strengthen my body, mind and spirit. This is my little piece of Paradise where I walk for two miles, listen to music, Hay House Radio or just meditate on the beauty of the setting. The Peace River – how appropriate.

The Peace River, Charlotte Harbor, Florida

On the walking path to the first pier

Careful not to disturb the herons

Walking out to the second pier

Past the playground

It looked like rain for a few minutes

After my 2 mile walk I like to sit at a picnic bench with my morning smoothie and my book. Paradise!

For me there is something cathartic about walking near the water; the sound, the motion, the smell. This is just one of many paths I enjoy along the Peace River. I know how lucky I am to live in a climate where I can exercise outdoors almost year round. When we visit our cottage in Michigan I attempt to exercise outside — hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Last Christmas I tried walking from our cottage to Lake Huron, about 100 yards, and almost wheezed up my brittle frozen sinuses and lungs – oops, it was minus 11 degrees, dumb Florida girl. So, how many calories are burned from shivering?

I took my 3-year old grandson snowshoeing last Christmas in a different sort of Paradise – the northern woods of Michigan.

Categories: Family, Health, Life, Uncategorized | Tags: Charlotte Harbor, exercise, Florida, Peace River, walking | Leave a comment

Alone vs Lonely

Posted on October 11, 2014 by queenbookworm

I enjoy my solitude. I have no problem entertaining myself. I have plenty of thoughts, ideas and memories to keep me occupied. In an on-line world I often need to unplug, find a quiet space and just read a book – a real book, not my Kindle. I think a lot of campers and solo travelers are loners, not exactly antisocial but people who enjoy the peace and quiet of their own company. Somewhat introverted, I enjoy individual relationships and small groups. Being alone is a choice, a need to withdraw and quiet one’s mind … to enjoy the sights and sounds of the world without intrusions. I’m friendly but not gregarious unless I’ve had more than one Grey Goose martini.

Loneliness is an emotion, a feeling of need, a yearning for validation and love. Being alone too long can lead to loneliness and I believe extended periods of loneliness is unhealthy for the mind, body and soul. Recognizing the difference is important because loneliness requires action.

When I’ve withdrawn from society long enough to regain my equilibrium and begin to feel lonely, I am fortunate that I can re-connect with a loved one or jump in the car to visit a child or grandchild for some rambunctious love. I can meet a friend for warm conversation, a hug, an arm around my shoulder or a pat on my hand. The antidote for loneliness is the willingness and ability to reach out to people for a physical, mental and emotional connection. I know that not everyone has that capacity or has a network of family and friends they can run to. I feel for those people and wish them well.

I would enjoy hearing from others who enjoy their solitude … those who can be alone without being lonely.

Categories: Life, Uncategorized | Tags: alone, antisocial, introvert, loneliness, loner, solitude | 3 Comments

Thanks for the Mammaries

Posted on October 5, 2014 by queenbookworm

I’ve been to fun, elegant and even black tie fund raisers but I’ve never been to one like The Seventh Annual Barstool Open held in Punta Gorda, FL yesterday to benefit “Dollars for Mammograms“. I believe I heard every imaginable name for breasts: hooters, ta tas, boobs, girlies, tits … and the names of the teams were hysterical. There were the “Hello Titties”, the “Doobies for Boobies”, the “Breast Friends”, and my team the “Ha Ha’s for Ta Ta’s”.

No, we did not take my grand-daughter to any of the nine bars that sponsored the event. Teams contributed $100 for each foursome and went to every bar for a drink and a turn on their putting green. All the money raised goes to provide mammograms and follow-up care for women who are uninsured or under-insured in Charlotte County, FL.

The bars were all within walking/staggering distance of each other but there was a trolley for those who chose not to or couldn’t walk. Each bar designed their own putting green & the hilarity increased from bar to bar and from drink to drink. The team costumes were as outrageous as their names and the camaraderie grew as teams kept running into each other and vied for better (or worse) scores … there were prizes for both. The bars had signature drinks for the event as well as special appetizers and meals.

The last event was hosted by Hurricane Charley’s on the Peace River to announce the winners of the various prizes. We were lucky enough to get a table on the tiki deck overlooking the water just as the breeze picked up and the live music began. More than 500 people participated in the event and raised over $25,000. What a fun way for a community to raise money for a worthy cause … the early detection or prevention of breast cancer.

As the sun set over the Peace River we congratulated each other and tottered home to give our ta ta’s a rest.

Categories: Life | Tags: Barstool Open, breast cancer, breasts, Charlotte County, Dollars for Mammograms, fund raisers, mammogram, prevention of breast cancer, Punta Gorda | 1 Comment

“Death, be not proud …” John Donne

Posted on October 2, 2014 by queenbookworm

Death, be not proud

BY JOHN DONNE

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Natalia was one of my daughter’s best friends and although my daughter is no stranger to death, having lost friends to accidents, elderly relatives to various illnesses and even some of her young students (she teaches visually impaired and multiply handicapped children); this was her first up-close and personal encounter with the viciousness of cancer.

Heidi stayed with Natalia and her husband in the hospital every evening after work, spending the night when needed. She called me every morning to vent about the previous day’s declines, fears and horrors. We talked about death and spiritual matters, our experiences and our realities. My daughter and her husband were with Natalia and Franco until yesterday when it ended and will now help Franco continue without his beloved wife.

Over the past few days as I ‘ve gone about my happy life, planning my upcoming travels and enjoying my days doodling around my house and playing with my granddaughter, I have held Natalia and Franco in my heart, but even more so my daughter. I ache for the pain she is experiencing but I am so proud of her faithfulness to her friends, her wonderful supportive husband who stayed by her side through this journey and her belief in my ability to comfort and guide her. We have learned a lot about each other this past week and I am so grateful for the beauty of her mind and heart, her compassion, loyalty and strength of character.

So, death, be not proud … “One short sleep past, we wake eternally and death shall be no more…”