Gorgeous day today…did yoga outside.

My mouth is healing…still a little tenderness in the jaws…but otherwise back to normal.

Lots of weeding to do in the garden this weekend. Pruning of roses…staking of tomatoes and planting the rest of the impatients.

Jacques was so cute this morning…he loves laying in the bowl on the table. I know…he really is not permitted on the table …but look how cute he is!!

I thought I would give myself a birthday present of going to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. For 15 years I had the same dental hygienist in Illinois. So when I moved here I was nervous to find someone new. Because of this fear, it has been 3 years since my last dentist appointment. So today was the day to make my first visit with a new dentist. My sister and brother-in-law suggested the one they go to. Well…2 1/1 hours later and $400.00 later here I sit. My mouth is numb…my gums sore as hell…but damn…I got a teeth cleaning. The fault was all mine of course for not going sooner. They ended up doing a DEEP CLEANING (under the gum line). I told them to just go ahead and do it today and get it over with. Give me a couple of days and I’ll be thankful. A follow-up visit is in 3 weeks and then I need to go every 4 months for maintenance…

Right now my stomach is grumbling…I didn’t eat before hand because I thought it would be a quick cleaning and then was going out to lunch with my Mom….but for get that! I can eat something in one hour…if my mouth is up to it.

So most of my plans for the day, save for the gentle ones will be put on hold.

Health is vital…so I am NOT complaining!!

Cheers….

47 years old this day. And the old adage of not feeling “THAT” old surely fits!

Strange dreams last night about my dog Mattie and my son and his dogs…how weird. I’m not a big dog lover…I do love MY dog and my son’s dog however. But other peoples dogs bug me. It’s kind of like children. Where you always see only the best in your own and think they are the cutest and smartest. I guess that’s how it is with dogs in my case…

So, today I will work a little and sip my tea…do some exercise…no big plans.

Spent all day yesterday painting kitchen upper cabinets with KILZ and just about died because of the fumes and having to have the house all closed up due to the HOT weather. I just have to get it done! Ever tried cooking in a kitchen that is in the process of being remodeled? It is not fun…

My jeep is all back to normal…air conditioning and all. I’m independent once again!! The days I didn’t have it (3 days) I just stayed home and did things around here. There is always so much to be done.

There is a program on PBS this afternoon with Barbara Sher…which is interesting…so I will listen to it while I paint.

In the past I could focus on tasks that would get me to my ultimate goals…but since moving from *“the Big House”, focusing on one thing at a time hasn’t been an easy thing for me to do. My big-time goal was to get my youngest son graduated from high school and off to college. With that accomplished I was then move to Georgia to start a new life. It has been 3 years now and I have not found a concrete set of goals to look forward to.

My world as I had known it for about 25 years was over and I felt lost. Not that I was ever really secure and safe living in the old place but it FELT that way. Maybe because it was the only thing I was used to. I don’t know…

So now…I have different ideas about success and happiness…and so my dreams and goals have changed. And I have not gotten a handle on them as of yet…

Learning to focus once again is something I have to re-learn. And am re-learning so that I can reach some of those goals…is the lack of ability to focus just a consequence of aging? Or is it that I am not sure what I really do want in life? In the past I always knew…I just knew.

collaboration is what I am concentrating on. This is a goal…to collaborate with someone on a creative project. That is one of my goals…

Richie and I on our 2nd Anniversary

too bad I got suddenly ill as soon as we got home from this wonderful dinner! (food poisoning?)

*“the Big House” is the family home we lived in as a family unit for 12 years until my move to Georgia.

Post script: The jeep Dealership is NOT charging me for the new coil or labor! Thank you Chris, the customer service guy, for talking with your manager!!

This blog has been sorely neglected…the past couple of weeks have been busy with kids and road trips!

That was the good part…

Yesterday and today my Jeep has been in the shop for air conditioning problems. They called me today and said it was fixed…one new compressor, fan shroud and line later. ($1100.00 worth)…so when I picked it up and drove it toward home…NO COLD AIR!! Same problem…oh man was I pissed, and still am!!! Not a damn difference…after a couple of miles I turned around and headed back to the DEALER shop. So now they have it over night and think it needs a new coil. (an additional $500.00). This I do not need!! We previously had taken it to a local independent shop and he was not able to determine the problem because he didn’t have the computer for jeeps to hook it up to…but he thought it was a switch. I told the DEALERSHIP that…I am not even sure if they checked out the switches!! What can I do? I have no knowledge of auto repair!! I think I will be looking for a second job to fill in on my off days…

Have some whole wheat pizza dough rising and will at least have a great dinner tonight.
There is a water ban because of the drought and my plants i.e. tomatoes and beans are showing it…along with the flowers.

But we will be having a great pizza tonight!

We have a new kitten….

meet Jacques!

I have been eating a diet of everything except:

• dairy (only yogurt, plain)
• meat
• white flour
• white rice
• sugar
• processed foods

Because of the healthy way of eating I do have more energy today…(maybe it is just the adrenaline from being pissed about the jeep though!)