Well, I hope everyone survived all of the Thanksgiving turkey and had a great time with family and friends. We had a very nice 5 days and since Bill was off I wasn’t online very much so I’ve really gotten behind, but it was a welcome break for both of us. It was too cold to ride the bike, but Bill did manage to get it started and filled it up with gas. I was ready to go with 3 layers of clothes, but he was afraid we’d get sick so he optioned out.

We also didn’t shop on Black Friday although Bill said we ought to pitch a tent at the dollar store and get on the news like many others at the big stores. I can’t imagine that people actually do that and miss Thanksgiving with their family, now that is diehard shopping. It was also very cold to be camping out just so you can be first in line to save money on Christmas gifts. I hope all those people got what they wanted, I know Bill’s daughter-in-law went very early with her sister which they do every year.

We were discussing Bill’s retirement and what he is going to do with his time which will be in a year or so from PA Stone. Since he knows all there is to know about cast stone and molds and pouring I thought we could open up a little shop and make those cute little things that people love putting in their gardens like gnomes, rabbits, frogs, benches, and all that other stuff. I would help of course and be the secretary and take care of the business end like ordering the promotional products we would need to get the word out.

Of course we would need a small business license and rent a small building somewhere plus numerous other things we would have to consider, but I think it could be fun for us. I know lots of people like to sell these items at those flea markets and of course I would try to get a contract with some of them as a supplier. He is very good at patch work also so he could even do that, like patching cracks in concrete steps and patios. I want him to stay active and occupied so he doesn’t get bored with retirement.

I’m sure it will probably be one big headache, but it’s something to think about of course maybe he would prefer being a greeter at Walmart because he does love talking to people. At any rate the little shop is one option we have been thinking about among others. Of course he could just cut his hours way back where he’s worked for over 40 years, that is if the company holds up and doesn’t fold within the next 4 years. I guess we’ll just wait and see.

I look at the grandkids and wonder what their lives will be in 20 years and wonder if we’ll still be around to see. Of course no one knows their fate and all we can do is enjoy one day at a time, but I still want to watch them grow up and see what they do with the life they’ve been given. Of course we want better for our grandchildren and hope they don’t make the mistakes we did or their parents.

When you’re young your so full of anticipation and anxious to be grown at least I know I couldn’t wait to get older, but now that I’m older the years can stop passing me by so quickly. It seemed like forever before I reached the age of 16 and could get my license and I would be well on my way to being an adult. Of course I pushed it and became an adult with a baby at 16 and had to learn new responsibilities, I was so impatient to be a grownup.

I recently got a pimple and it made me feel like a teenager again. I always thought when you got older your glands became different and you were done with all of that, but I guess stress and other factors still play a role. At least I don’t have to worry about getting acne treatment like my sister did so many years ago. You would think getting age spots and wrinkles would be enough to worry about now without adding a pimple to compound it.

I actually would not want to be young again I’m grateful for all the years I’ve been given to experience so many different things and feelings and I’ve actually been very lucky in my life. I always felt like someone was watching out for me. When I look around I can see 10 other people that have had a rougher life than myself so it makes me grateful for everything I have and time can slow down again now that I’m older so I can enjoy it..

I’ve been looking for information from other bloggers about beds and usually the searches bring back everything except what I want. Finally I found a blogger that sounds just like me that wanted a new bed the blogger at  Wine On The Keyboard actually got the type of bed I want and she has pictures of her husband putting it together in another post which didn’t look that difficult. I enjoyed reading her other posts also because she has a sense of humor.

I’ve been dying for a sleep number bed ever since I saw it advertised on television, but I don’t know anyone that has one. I’m a terrible sleeper, I toss and turn all night when I do finally lay down and I hate my bed it’s one of those really high ones, but at least it keeps Sadie off and if it was low she would no doubt be on it all the time because she loves her comfort and so do I, but I simply don’t have it right now. Sadie has taken over the small sofa in my office.

Bill of course loves this bed, we bought the set about 5 years ago, but I didn’t know how to pick a bed and I felt weird laying on it before buying it so I was on and off so quick I really didn’t get the feel. I should have told Bill to come back after an hours nap and I’d let him know how it slept, but of course I couldn’t do that. Then I started seeing those ads and I’ve wanted one ever since, but I also want to try one of those magnetic pads. I need a comfortable bed.

I also have a hard time sleeping with anyone so I have to have one of those body pillows in the middle so I can throw my leg over it instead of a person. Bill calls it my man pillow, but I can’t sleep without it which reminds me I need a new one. I’m not a good spooner because I get very uncomfortable if someone has their arm around me I feel very confined and restricted, yeah I know I’m weird. The older I get the worse my sleeping patterns become.

How do people deal with ex partners and events that happen in their life? Do you remain friends and share special events and attend marriages and funerals. Do you keep in touch with their children and remain a part of something even though it’s over? I guess some people do just that, I know when Bill’s ex (not wife) had the tragic accident that took her grandsons life Bill went to the funeral, I chose not to.

My personal opinion is that when a relationship is over it’s time to put it behind you and move on except when you have biological children involved then you need to be civil. I don’t think I would ever go to an ex’s funeral or any of their family, I might send a condolence card and flowers for the family. I don’t know what the etiquette is for those situations or if there is any. People pretty much do whatever they feel like doing now a days.

I told you about Bill’s ex friend and her son that had an accident a month or so ago, he was the Father of the baby that died. Well, he died last night he was 31 and I feel so bad for that family and their heartache so of course this will probably be another funeral Bill will attend. When I split with my ex I severed all ties with his family and I do not keep in touch with anyone even though they were apart of my life for almost 10 years.

Heart Wrenching

It seems like the whole time Bill and I have been together some event or tragedy has kept that family very much in my life. I don’t want to know the woman or her family even if I feel sorry for all the tragedy. Maybe I’m selfish and jealous or maybe I’m just tired of getting the low down about his ex and all the events that happen monthly from her brother-in-law that works with Bill.

Believe me it’s always something, it makes me think a small part is still interested. I don’t think I’m a horrible person I even talk to Bill’s ex wife of 25 years at their grandson’s birthday party every year and when I see her at the store. I even gave her my stray cats food when he ran away, but that’s different she was at least his wife not an ex girlfriend. I hope you didn’t read all of this I just felt like getting it off my chest.

Having pets is sometimes worse than having children and taking care of them is a big responsibility. Most of us consider them as our children and worry just as much about them. When I was young I simply thought of dogs as dogs of course, but when I got older and I no longer had a child to mother I started feeling different. This last one somehow became my baby and filled a void, he’s going on 11, well 77 human years, sorry I had dog years there.

When we go away I have to make sure someone stays at the house with him instead of putting him in a kennel because I want him to be in his familiar surroundings. I leave a list of his likes and dislikes and numbers where I can be reached. I never worry of course when I go away by myself because I know Bill’s there and my dog loves him more than me even though I had him almost 5 years before I met Bill.

For some reason my dogs have started eating dirt or at least that’s what I think it is. I know the squirrels and rabbits play in our yard all the time and bury stuff and I have no clue what else they may be doing that my dogs are always sniffing and picking and digging and eating. I know that dogs love to eat cat turds because I read somewhere they consider them treats, but yuck, poop is poop.

I’ve given them pet supplements in the past, but it looks like they may be missing something in their system now so I guess it’s time to restart them. I seldom have any health related problems with them except my old guy recently had an ear infection and his medicine cost 33 dollars. I started to get pet insurance when I first got him, but it didn’t fit in my budget then, but I’m thinking now that he’s older I might need it.

Just like older people they start having more aches and pains also. He doesn’t get around like he use to and I hate to think he’s in pain. I know he has a fatty tumor, but at his age I don’t want him put under and have it removed. The Vet said if it grows it goes, but it’s stayed the same for the past few years, he’s slower getting up and down the steps though. He’s even started to snore, but that might have been from the infection.

He has slowed down a lot unless you drop something on the floor then he’s there like lightening. Both dogs are fixed, but it doesn’t stop him from getting amorous thoughts even at 77 he still tries to get frisky. Of course she’s younger and simply flips him around and shows him who’s boss, but it doesn’t stop him from trying and it’s very embarrassing when we’re outside and kids are playing in the next yard and my female dog is acting like the male.

When Bill retires we are planning on traveling some I just hope the economy is stable by then which will be a year or two from now. I’m not going to hold my breath though, but I can hope. I feel very sorry for families with young children because there’s so much to worry about now a days, but families need time to have fun together even if it’s not a big vacation way from home.

I receive e-mail advertisements all the time for vacation specials because I signed up to receive special deals when they become available. Of course I get them from all over because I like to dream and plan. I often get the Disney packages, but it’s only Bill and myself and if we still had small children that would be ideal. For those families that are planning a get away it pays to check with a travel agent or find online specials.

Disney vacations are one of the top get aways for family fun and excitement. I will never forget the magic I felt as a little girl when we all went to California to visit family and we actually got to go to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. That’s one of the very few good childhood memories I have from the time I lived with my aunt. I got to see my older brother and he rode the rides with me, it was great.

My sister Betty and grandkids go to Disney World in Florida every year and they love it. I have never been to Disney World even though I lived in Florida for awhile. Since Bill isn’t really into theme parks that’s probably one destination that we will miss out on, but I still like getting the special travel deals to see what’s available. Bill has bad memories of flying do to the war so we’ll probably get an RV and trailer for the bike, sounds like fun to me.