Sunday, July 24, 2016

Day Timers vs Old Timers

Sunday.  5:30pm.  It's been a busy day of doing ... nothing much. Usual chores to get ready for another busy work week.

I'm finding that I have a really good week if I take the time to jot down notes, thoughts, feelings, ideas .... whatever crosses my mind.  It's as if by jotting them down, they won't slip from memory, and that means a lot to me as I get older.  I fear not being able to have the sharp mind that I once had.  At the same time, it's very nice to let go of things I don't really need to remember.  I've always been a memorize-r of numbers.  Back in the 70s it was telephone numbers!   Thank goodness we don't have to remember all of those any more.  Other things like drivers license number, etc ... no one asks for them any longer, because we no longer write paper checks.   Again, thank goodness!   I bought 200 checks back in 2010 when I bought my house ... and I still have some left!  lol

But I still fear not remembering important things - things that I store in my phone.  If I lost it, I would feel lost for a long time!   Back in the day, when I was raising kids and juggling family, career, and everything that goes with it, I kept a DayTimer.  Mine sort of looked like this one ....
full of little notes to myself.  It made a lot of things easier, less decisions to make because it was "already on the schedule".  I suppose they still make them for the ultra-busy folks, but I can keep a month's worth of data/appointments necessary on a 3x5 index card now.  lol  Instead, I keep it in my phone - even better.

I know that in the scope of things, compared to my life 20 years ago, I now have a lot of free time -- but I also find that I need time to rest and recuperate after a long day of work rather than spending my time running around with errands, laundry, cooking and cleaning on a daily basis.  I can still do it - if I have to! - and given enough notice.  But gone are the days of impulsive dashing here and there.  A shopping trip to the mall for me can feel like a major excursion - not something I enjoy like I used to.  Have I come full circle, knowing that I don't need a lot of 'stuff' to deal with any more?  I liken it to having knick knacks - people still have them, and I have my share, but the more I have, the more I have to -do-.  They always seem to need dusting!

Using my blog as my journal - or my day timer - to jot down all these little self-notes is a good way for me to feel as if I'm keeping my sanity --- or at the very least, holding back the beast I sometimes call "old timers". haha


Saturday, July 23, 2016

One of "Those People"

Yes, I am officially one of "those people".  
and I resisted for so long!
but ....  living in the desert means sometimes
you do things that quite frankly aren't logical ......

I bought a dog stroller.
Yep.
Always thought it was weird, but here's the deal:

I am a single dog mom.
I live in the desert where it gets too hot to walk a dog.


When my dog stays home 10 hours a day alone, she needs to see more than these four walls.  Do dogs get cabin fever?  My instinct - and experience - says yes!  Because there are some days when bedtime hits and that's when she wants to play again!

I always laughed at people who pushed their dogs in strollers.  Until I realized that at 100 degrees, the asphalt can feel like 150 on her paws - Can't exactly walk her over to the park to play in the grass like that!  Driving two blocks seems ridiculous, and staying home hasn't been a good option either.  I need to walk, I love to walk, it's my thing.  Truth be told, I feel guilty walking alone when my dog's been home alone all day.   Yep, I'm funny that way.  So this was my $100 compromise:  A stroller to get her too and from the park while I can get my own walking in as well.

I think she likes it!
I think this is gonna work well for us!
Even if you do say I'm one of "those people"!
hahahaha