36

36 years ago I gave birth to my first child. 36 years ago! That’s like 3 score and…6.

I remember being 36. I really loved that time of my life. I loved it so much that I kept it. The 36 that is. A couple of years ago I had to go in for some physio because I had hurt my back (you see, there it starts, that whole aging thing) and when the physio guy asked me my age, I said, without batting an eye, 36. Yeah, you should have seen the look on his face. And when I tried to back track and say, no wait, I’m 4orty, no, crap! I’m 52? I realized for the first time that middle age had come and smacked me upside the head and raced on ahead of me.

And now here is my daughter. 36 - with three beautiful children of her own. Busy as any mother with three kids is. Always getting ready for tomorrow. I remember those days.

And what I know now is that being 36 when you’re 54 is way easier than being 36 when you’re 36.

Happy Birthday, Shana!

It's My Dirty Little Secret

I don’t know how to dress myself. Haven’t a clue. If the outfit doesn’t come complete off the mannequin I’m hooped. To be faced with row upon row of clothes hanging on, well, hangars, forget it. Leave me to my own devices and I’ll pick out something guaranteed to make me feel like I’m starring in my own reality version of what the hell is she wearing?? When I was a working in a real office person, I loved two piece suits. It was like wearing a uniform. No rational thinking required. Just walk into the store, pick out a mannequin and say I’ll take it. And I had lots of them. And sometimes, when I was adventurous and oh so edgy, I would take the jacket from one suit and pair it with the skirt from another. And with my three pairs of shoes (black, brown, navy – come on, you know a girl can NEVER have too many pairs of shoes) the combinations could be endless. Hair and makeup was a whole other issue. Well, actually not as it was pretty much non-existent.

This is the thing – I can dress a house. Give me any room and I can do it’s hair, makeup and styling - no problem. And don’t get me started on showrooms – anybody can decorate by picking out a showroom and saying I’ll take it! You might as well just walk into a clothing store and look at the mannequins and say…..

So when I found myself in Chicago recently with some friends, I thought I would try bumping it up a notch. It was a little nippy out so I thought I would try on some scarves. As an accessory. Like a real grown up. After winding it around my neck as if I was dressing a 5 year old to go outside and play in -10 degree weather, Pat gently suggested that perhaps she could show me a better way to wear it. And she did. And I loved it! The scarf was so pretty – grey with sparkly bits. But then Pat said the colour didn’t do anything for me. What? You see, I had already envisioned me wearing it Christmas Eve, right next to my black, white and silver tree – you know, the one that matches my bathroom.

And then I realized – I sometimes dress myself like I’m a tchotchke. I’ve also been known to buy a dress for a special occasion, just because the fabric will make fabulous cushions after! And now that I look at all the Christmas presents I’ve bought, I apologize in advance. But, believe me, you’ll all look fabulous next to the tree!

Doug, D.I.M. (doctor of internet medicine)

Seems that since Doug is on medically prescribed (as in prescribed by a person who is a real doctor) medication for high blood pressure he has decided that he must be pro-active and prescribe for himself various herbal preventative medicinal stuff. This after getting his internet medical degree. So now we’re ramping up our daily doses of Vitamin D, Greens, Emergen-C, stuff for joints, various fish oils, memory aiders, and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember. Anyways, we are NOT going gentle into middle age!

My medical advice? Just up your intake of grapes – preferably in liquid form.

My husband – Mr. GQ

Doug just came in and told me that he was too dressed up to hang around the house. Yipee – let’s go somewhere! Then he finished his sentence “I think I’ll slob it down a bit”. He always knows the right things to say.

Doug went to the Optometrist and now we’re on a diet

A while back both Doug and I went to have our eyes checked and to get updated prescriptions so that we could order more contact lenses. Who knew that eyes could reveal so much about someone. Apparently Doug’s eyes said he had high blood pressure. Off the charts high blood pressure. Almost drop dead if you don’t start doing something about it high blood pressure. You have to understand that even though in human years we are both 54, in mental years we are only in our late 30’s. We are way too young for him to have high blood pressure.

So now we’re on a diet. It gives the saying “my eyes are bigger than my stomach” a whole new meaning.

PS – he’s fine now. He’s the proud owner of a blood pressure kit and some magical little pills that brings the numbers closer to 120/80.

I'm Back

I know it’s been quite a long while since I’ve posted anything, but I was saving things up. Ok, actually I think they call it procrastination. Or laziness. Or life getting in the way. Whatever, I’m back.