Category: My Life

I was fitted a couple of weeks ago for orthotics for my shoes. This is supposed to help solve my Planter Fasciitis. I waited and finally the pair made specially for my feet arrived. I was advised to go slowly while building up my time in them, and I think I have been pretty good about that, only doing a few hours a day and increasing every other day. Currently I am up to about 7 hours.

They felt wonderful the first day I had them on, but things have slowly been going downhill since. When I awaken in the night to go to the bathroom, and step down on the carpeted floor I want to scream with the pain. Even lying in bed has caused my feet to hurt. And the worst part about breaking these suckers in? My back is aching too. Today I felt it and I knew it was just going to get worse, and it has.

I just have to face the fact that I am getting older. I’m not the limber woman that I was in my twenties. I don’t just moan and groan with aches when I go to bed at night, now I am doing it in the morning too!

Hubby laughs at me because he is older than me, and yet for the most part I think he is in better shape. You know he has skied 51 days so far this year, and should be able to get a few more days in before the ski areas close.

Of course there is something to be said for getting old.

First, it beats the heck out of the alternative.

Second, You have learned from your mistakes (hopefully) and no longer do the stupid things you once did in your youth.

And lastly, you appreciate (hopefully) all you have and are smart enough to thank God, and enjoy every moment you have with your family.

Even if your back is killing you!

Cathy over at Planet Germany tagged me with this MEME to reveal my bookcase. It’s scary because they are truly a mess. I tend to access things often and I do not always put things back.

The bookcase near my chair in the family room.

The book I was last grabbing. Guess why.

Another book I have been reading like crazy.

We are teaching the twins (our neighbors) to read with the help of good old Dick and Jane.

And lastly, a bookshelf in our living room. The books here are old and somewhat special reads for us.

Books. I window into another world. A book. It can take you from your living room armchair to the South Seas. Books. I love them.

OK… that’s done. Now I have to nominate some other bloggers to show their shelves….

Umm… let me see… I pick…

Janet and Goofy Girl and Renny (only if you want to of course).

I suppose we should all breathe a sigh of relief it was the bookshelves this time, not the deepest depths of the kitchen cupboards…. or the dark recesses of the fridge.

Thirteen Things About Me That Start With The Letter F

1. Friends. I am blessed to have friends that I love and with whom I share my life.

2. Faith. I don’t write about it much, but my faith in God gets me through each day of my life.

3. Family. My family is not what you read about in text books, but good and bad they are mine and I love them all.

4. Fruit. Hubby and I grow a lot of fruit here at our home. Apples, Peaches, Cherries, Pears and Grapes. We also really enjoy making things with the “fruits of our labor”!

5. Feast. I love to cook and I think I am happiest when I am creating a feast to share with my friends and family.

6. Fifty. Yes, I will be fifty in November. I still can’t believe it!

7. Fireplace. I love our fireplace and enjoy having fires in it in the evening.

8. Flute. Growing up I played the flute in the school band. Sadly, my ex-husband kept my flute when we divorced. I have not played since.

9. Fragrance. My favorite fragrance is Christian Dior’s “Dune”. However, I can only wear perfume in the winter as I detest bug bites. So in the summer my perfume is “Deep Woods Off”! LOL!!

10. Foreign places. I love to travel, to meet new people, try new things. In a few more years when I am done breeding puppies I will once again travel with Hubby.

11. Free. I am so happy that I live in a country where I am free. I remember my trips into the east block countries at the height of the cold war and I could see that the lack of freedom brought so much unhappiness to people’s lives.

12. Fresh. I love fresh foods, fresh sheets on my bed and fresh flowers!

13. Fortunate. I want to end with the fact that I feel very fortunate in my life. I am loved by an incredible man, and we share a truly wonderful life together, I have a phenomenal daughter whom I love and am so proud of, as well as dear friends whom I love greatly and who love me and the most awesome dogs in the world!

Yes, I am Fortunate!

Yesterday Hubby and I drove to the big city to look at a few things. We wanted to check out scanners, as ours is about 12 years old, and we also wanted to stop a Home Show. Since Greta is at the peak of her heat we decided to take Arnie-man along with us. You know Greta is so horny willing we were afraid to leave him lest she open his crate and throw him down on the floor and have her way with him.

So, about 10 o’clock we got Arnie ready with his traveling harness, leash and sweater and off we went leaving poor Fritz to manage the girls!

We decided to go to places in order of where we got off the highway. Our first stop was my favorite outlet store, LL Bean. They are in the middle of remodeling the store so they had many really good items on sale. I got two bath-sheet towels (really big beach size towels) in a delightful pattern for $7.99 each. I got a deep blue fleece throw blanket for the family room for $6.99, and the best buy was a fleece lined navy blue three season jacket, for me at $14.99!! Plus I had a ten dollar coupon so it was all quite inexpensive!

Then we took Arnie into a pet store at the same mall. They encourage you to bring in your pet. On theory this is a good idea, but on a Saturday when everyone is off of work and goes shopping with their dog, not so much. Poor Arnie actually did well until he saw a 125 pound (baby) bull mastiff! He just barked and barked and barked! We finally picked out a nice bone for him and a toy and then Hubby took him out to water a tree or two while I paid for our purchases.

Next we went to the Home Show. I was walking around and I spoke to a woman who is interested in buying a puppy this summer from me. She wanted to see Arnie but couldn’t leave her vender’s stall. So I went and got Arnie out of the car and brought him in. I have said this before about my little man, he is the Frank Sinatra of dogs, just one totally cool dude! He had people from all over the show coming over to say hello and ask about him.

Next we stopped for lunch at a Chinese buffet. I find this an easy place to go and stay on my diet because the selection always includes a lot of vegetables. I did, however, sneak out a little chicken teriyaki and a fortune cookie for my boy who was waiting so patiently in the car.

We had two more stops after lunch before heading home. Upon arriving we found three dogs who were quite jealous of Arnie, and in turn Arnie, who seemed to delight in the fact that he had been the “chosen” one!

Today Hubby is off skiing this morning, and this afternoon Greta’s lover arrives for the first of heir two dates. Seems my little girl couldn’t wait until April Fools Day. She hardly let me sleep last night as she made is quite clear that SHE WANTS BERNIE – NOW!!!

Ah, yes. I remember the last time, Sex and the single dachshund. I hope this breeding is as good as the last!

I went to Boston today to see my Eye Doctor. She is a specialist in the field. People refer to her as the doctor of last resort, as she is one of those gifted people who solves the difficult cases. And as you all know my eyes have been a constant worry for many years, and even now I worry about them.

I guess I have every reason to. Although I have good vision now, I have a few things that will need to be monitored over the years, lest I be faced with further problems.

I’ve always thought that life was simple, but these days I am starting to see the fact that nothing is ever really easy and I’m just going to have to accept that, and take care.

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Meanwhile, during the time I waited for my eyes to dilate, and my appointment for the doctor to come, I had a chance to participate in my favorite pastime. People-Watching.

There was the handsome father, neatly dressed, sitting with his arm around his ten year old daughter. While she read her book of ghost stories to him, he closed his eyes and looked peacefully, about to fall asleep.

It made me think of my cousin Janet, who always read those “Ghost Stories” while I was reading “Fairy Tales”.

There was the woman, who was probably my sister’s age, there with her mother. The daughter was trying to get her mother’s paper work filled out, and the mother was more interested in trying to find the chicklets at the bottom of her cavernous purse. I watched them for a long time, amazed with her patience. The daughter’s, not the mother’s.

Then there was the older Asian man. He sat there alone doing nothing at all. Suddenly his cell phone rang and he started speaking in fast Chinese (?) and then suddenly his name was called and he hung up the cell phone,and walked to the technician. She asked if he needed a translator. He stood there looking at her. I wanted to shout at her…”Ah yeah, I think that’s a big yes!”. But I sat quietly, and she finally figured it out.

There were several other people, family members, who like Hubby, had driven or come with their loved ones.

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At the end of the day I was so thankful for Hubby. Not only did he do all the driving for me, but he went out and got me a lovely salad for my lunch, while I waited to see the doctor. He also brought me coffee, and then drove me home after the appointment.

It was a long day made entirely bearable by Hubby. That and the pronouncement that I have 20/20 vision. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things will stay the same and that my eyes will last a lifetime.

Thirteen Things About Maribeth That Begin With The Letter E!

1. Eggplant! My favorite vegetable! I love it just about any way it’s cooked, but probably I like it roasted the very best.

2. Easter. I’ve always loved this holiday because of the music. It gives me hope!

3. Emotions. Oh yeah, I’m menopausal and emotions are right here, watching over my shoulder threatening to mug me at any moment!

4. Europe. Oh I just loved the years when Hubby was still working and we Euro-hopped all over Europe! The history, the customs and the food!

5. Eagles. They are so beautiful to watch and are so majestic!

6. Eyes. Well you all know the story of my Eyes!

7. Eight. Yes eight eye surgeries later I can see beautifully!

8. Egg rolls. I really love a good home made egg roll. Hmmmm!

9. Evergreens. All I can say is that evergreens are beautiful! I especially love them in the winter when they are covered in snow!

10. Elephants. I have always loved them since the first time I saw the as a child! They still thrill me.

11. Eleanor Rigby. Yes, a real snappy song by my favorite group, The Beatles!

12. English Muffins. All I will say here is YUM!

13. Emily! Yes, my special friend will have her 13th birthday on Saturday!

I got up early yesterday morning and delivered a few things to my mother and then went to church to listen to my sister sing in her choir. Pretty voices! It was Palm Sunday, and although I am somewhat of a lapsed Episcopalian, all the liturgy is familiar and in many ways a comfort to me.

I love my sister’s church. The people are all so nice and kind. I sat with Mom and took communion with her. As I said, familiar and comforting.

Once church was over, My sister, Mel and I returned to her house, had a light lunch and then we packed up my car for the 225 mile ride home.

Anneliese was with me and for the first half of the trip back, I had her in her crate in the back seat. I discovered on the way down that she doesn’t like city traffic, so until I reached the Massachusetts/Vermont border going home, she stayed in the crate. After that, as I drove the back roads of New Hampshire (all west/east roads in our state tend to be “back roads”), she sat quite nicely on the passenger seat.

Getting back home is always the best! There are your familiar slippers, your chair, the other three doggies, who were thrilled to see us, and of course Hubby’s welcoming embrace! Ah yes, HOME!

Within 30 minutes of my arrival, Hubby’s college roommate and his son arrived for the night. We visited for a while, and once the dogs were fed and walked, we headed out to my favorite restaurant, “Canoe” for a fabulous meal.

I know I have written about my concerns regarding eating out while learning to change my eating habits. I was, however, able to find things on the menu to eat. For an appetizer I shared in a serving of steamed muscles! My dinner, was grilled swordfish with a raspberry balsamic drizzle, broccolini and mashed potatoes (which I did not eat).

Later, climbing into our bed, with Hubby and Greta was such a warm and welcoming thing.

Yes, after four days away, it felt good to be back home.