Today is the first day of posting for the next month, I hope. I'm trying to get back in the habit of posting often, not neglecting this blog.
So, what has been happening with me? A lot, more than I can write in one post. I will confess that I've had some serious issues with depression, the kind of clinical depression that led to self-medicating with alcohol. I came very close to dying. As a result, I spent two weeks in a rehab that included daily group therapy, medication, and now, I have to attend group therapy several times a week. I also have a "plan" to follow: namely volunteering at the nearby nursing home (as a means of getting out more, not isolating so much)...and I'm not doing too well on visiting. At least not at this point.
At any rate, when I was in the rehab/clinic, I kept a daily journal. The clinic was a place for mostly elderly, and I preferred it to one with younger adults. I had an interesting experience, learned greatly, and hope to share sections of my journal on here during the next month.
I am planning to visit the nursing home this afternoon, as well as AA around noon. I am also seeing a private therapist every few weeks. I was told I can never, ever stop my medication (anti-depressant, etc), and my mood has stabalized so much with it, I wouldn't even if I could.
We're having partly cloudy skies today, mild temperatures and I'm hoping to get a good walk with the dogs in at some point.
More to come, stay tuned.
My Novels
Friday, November 30, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Autumn is here...at last!
Reading my past posts, it seems I only write once for each season this year. I wish I had a good excuse, but the truth is, I don't write as much as I once did. At least I do have daily Twitter posts at the top of this blog; that way, I do keep updated on my activities.
Though I love autumn, it's also the beginning of a sad time. Six years ago, my late husband & I had bought the old farmhouse, started the renovation. It took us six months to complete that; we moved in during the following spring. Only lived there two years before his death. And though I've moved on with my life, sometimes the slant of autumn light will suddenly make me catch my breath with sorrow. About what-could-have-been, what-might-have-been by now. I try to resist recreating how our lives might have turned out together, as we shared retirement -- which was what we'd been planning for in buying the farm. Alas, it was not to be. I wish I could look to the future instead of back into the past so often.
But the truth is, I can't find any motivation for moving into the future. Aging is not for sissies, as the true saying goes, but having a vivid imagination, I often despair of what lies ahead. I have several health conditions, nothing life threatening, but some that might prove life-altering at some point. Arthritis. Herniated discs in my back. Knee issues. I realize those things can cause limitations in everyday life -- especially the enjoyment I get from long walks with my dogs, taking care of my home/property, my cats' needs, etc. Often I become depressed, and it takes awhile to pull out of the darkness. Writing might help, but other than a private, personal journal written by hand, I don't wish to air those dark thoughts on a public blog.
However, at this time, life is still good. Recently I visited my sister/brother-in-law near Huntsville. We went to Falls Mill: http://www.fallsmill.com/. It was a fun day, but unfortunately I forgot to take my camera. I did take some photos with my sister's camera, but haven't downloaded those to my PC yet. We also took the dogs to a nearby park, and they had a great time exploring new territory. I always take my dogs with me when I stay a few days with her.
I've been reading voraciously, especially since I bought an e-tablet. Not an ipad, but a cheaper version. I can download e-books from the library, and keep several always loaded. I've noticed I can read faster on the tablet than a print book. Have no idea why, but I greatly enjoy reading, one of my pleasures. And I still enjoy Netflix movies or documentaries.
Leaves are starting to color here, but we usually reach our peak sometimes in late October/November. I hope to get the couple who do my yard mowing to take care of the fallen leaves this year. My back just can't take the twisting/turning of raking any longer.
I've had a couple of accidental falls during the summer -- mostly while doing some kind of chore or task with the cats. The sun porch where they stay has a lot of steps and I've always been clumsy. Fortunately, no broken bones but lots of bruises and bumps. I need to be more careful, and most important, SLOW down. I've always been a dynamo when it comes to walking, working...and now that I'm getting older, it's difficult to slow down and look where I'm going. (sigh)
Oscar (my wiener dog) had a tooth problem, though I didn't realize it for two weeks. By the time I noticed his discomfort, he had to visit the vet and be sedated. The vet said he had a small particle of bone lodged in his gum near a back tooth. (Beware of giving chew-bones, I suppose.) She retrieved it, and he's fine now. But that really upset me; it's only the second time Oscar has been sick.
Rambo, fortunately, has never really been sick. I know now that it's going to be very emotionally difficult to let go of either of these dogs; they've been with me since shortly after my husband died. They are always nearby, waiting for me when I return, or following me around. While my cats come inside for the evening hours while I watch movies/TV, and the dogs are crated, the dogs are still with me almost constantly.
And with that round of melancholy, I'll end this post. I wish I could get back in the habit of posting regularly, but other than Twitter (which is space enough for my daily stuff), don't know if I'll ever be a frequent poster.
Though I love autumn, it's also the beginning of a sad time. Six years ago, my late husband & I had bought the old farmhouse, started the renovation. It took us six months to complete that; we moved in during the following spring. Only lived there two years before his death. And though I've moved on with my life, sometimes the slant of autumn light will suddenly make me catch my breath with sorrow. About what-could-have-been, what-might-have-been by now. I try to resist recreating how our lives might have turned out together, as we shared retirement -- which was what we'd been planning for in buying the farm. Alas, it was not to be. I wish I could look to the future instead of back into the past so often.
But the truth is, I can't find any motivation for moving into the future. Aging is not for sissies, as the true saying goes, but having a vivid imagination, I often despair of what lies ahead. I have several health conditions, nothing life threatening, but some that might prove life-altering at some point. Arthritis. Herniated discs in my back. Knee issues. I realize those things can cause limitations in everyday life -- especially the enjoyment I get from long walks with my dogs, taking care of my home/property, my cats' needs, etc. Often I become depressed, and it takes awhile to pull out of the darkness. Writing might help, but other than a private, personal journal written by hand, I don't wish to air those dark thoughts on a public blog.
However, at this time, life is still good. Recently I visited my sister/brother-in-law near Huntsville. We went to Falls Mill: http://www.fallsmill.com/. It was a fun day, but unfortunately I forgot to take my camera. I did take some photos with my sister's camera, but haven't downloaded those to my PC yet. We also took the dogs to a nearby park, and they had a great time exploring new territory. I always take my dogs with me when I stay a few days with her.
I've been reading voraciously, especially since I bought an e-tablet. Not an ipad, but a cheaper version. I can download e-books from the library, and keep several always loaded. I've noticed I can read faster on the tablet than a print book. Have no idea why, but I greatly enjoy reading, one of my pleasures. And I still enjoy Netflix movies or documentaries.
Leaves are starting to color here, but we usually reach our peak sometimes in late October/November. I hope to get the couple who do my yard mowing to take care of the fallen leaves this year. My back just can't take the twisting/turning of raking any longer.
I've had a couple of accidental falls during the summer -- mostly while doing some kind of chore or task with the cats. The sun porch where they stay has a lot of steps and I've always been clumsy. Fortunately, no broken bones but lots of bruises and bumps. I need to be more careful, and most important, SLOW down. I've always been a dynamo when it comes to walking, working...and now that I'm getting older, it's difficult to slow down and look where I'm going. (sigh)
Oscar (my wiener dog) had a tooth problem, though I didn't realize it for two weeks. By the time I noticed his discomfort, he had to visit the vet and be sedated. The vet said he had a small particle of bone lodged in his gum near a back tooth. (Beware of giving chew-bones, I suppose.) She retrieved it, and he's fine now. But that really upset me; it's only the second time Oscar has been sick.
Rambo, fortunately, has never really been sick. I know now that it's going to be very emotionally difficult to let go of either of these dogs; they've been with me since shortly after my husband died. They are always nearby, waiting for me when I return, or following me around. While my cats come inside for the evening hours while I watch movies/TV, and the dogs are crated, the dogs are still with me almost constantly.
And with that round of melancholy, I'll end this post. I wish I could get back in the habit of posting regularly, but other than Twitter (which is space enough for my daily stuff), don't know if I'll ever be a frequent poster.
Friday, July 06, 2012
Mid-Summer Days
It's no news that most of the country is experiencing a sorching, sweltering heat-wave; and here in the South is no exception. Most days are around 100 degrees, so I stay indoors during the worst of the heat - shutters/shades and doors closed. While I prefer an open, sunny house, this is necessary to save on the power bills. Fortunately I had a small air conditioner installed on my cat's sunporch but only run it during the worst heat of the day; otherwise, I keep the windows up with a big fan on.
Being inside has one advantage: I've been working on my past novels, planning to post those online at Amazon at some point. It's amazing how rereading my first novel brought back so many happy memories; I remember how I learned as I wrote, the characters taking over and my surprise at how easily the words flowed. I've reworked this novel, "The Dark Fire" many times; it's nothing like the first rough draft, but still the same storyline. Therefore, I've been busy.
I decided the only way to keep my yard mowed was to get up very early, mow before the heat of the day. I got up at 5 AM this morning, was mowing by 6 AM and had it done by 7:30. It was humid, and I still got sweaty-hot, but nothing like the terrible heat of later day.
Every afternoon I let the cats outside to prowl, and yesterday afternoon, I took some photos. Here's their adventures in pictures (click to enlarge):
Shadow stalks a squirrel on the ground nearby...
Bitty Kitty watches closely, interested...
The squirrel suspects something is going on....
A mocking bird squeaks and squawks at the cats
Slinky is oblivious, scenting something in the grass
(Look at those dry, dead fallen leaves!)
Squirrel retreats to the fence, just in case....
All's well that ends well...Shadow didn't get the squirrel!
What else? Not much happening here due to the extreme heat. Everyone hibernates during the day (even kids!) and tries to get anything necessary done either early in the morning or very late afternoon.
Climate change, anyone?
Being inside has one advantage: I've been working on my past novels, planning to post those online at Amazon at some point. It's amazing how rereading my first novel brought back so many happy memories; I remember how I learned as I wrote, the characters taking over and my surprise at how easily the words flowed. I've reworked this novel, "The Dark Fire" many times; it's nothing like the first rough draft, but still the same storyline. Therefore, I've been busy.
I decided the only way to keep my yard mowed was to get up very early, mow before the heat of the day. I got up at 5 AM this morning, was mowing by 6 AM and had it done by 7:30. It was humid, and I still got sweaty-hot, but nothing like the terrible heat of later day.
Every afternoon I let the cats outside to prowl, and yesterday afternoon, I took some photos. Here's their adventures in pictures (click to enlarge):
Shadow stalks a squirrel on the ground nearby...
Bitty Kitty watches closely, interested...
The squirrel suspects something is going on....
A mocking bird squeaks and squawks at the cats
Slinky is oblivious, scenting something in the grass
(Look at those dry, dead fallen leaves!)
Squirrel retreats to the fence, just in case....
And this is my fresh mown lawn this morning!
Climate change, anyone?
Monday, June 25, 2012
Guest post: 10 Great Hobbies for Retirees
Art
Now is a time in your life when you actually have the extra hours in the day to focus on technique and creativity. If you are interested in the visual arts, you have the time, and hopefully the money, to spend on taking a few classes, learning the techniques necessary to feel comfortable expressing yourself visually. Creating your masterpiece will help keep your thinking sharp as art uses both the left and right sides respectively, helping you to exercise it completely.
Exercise
Hiking, kayaking, and swimming are all excellent forms of exercise that have fantastic benefits for the mind and the body. Seniors should make hobbies of physical activities that require rhythmic activities because it helps the brain stay sharp by keeping it working. Finding activities that can be done outdoors will help to reduce the risk of depression by getting you outdoors and out into the sunshine.
Gardening
Gardening is a therapeutic hobby that can produce some excellent and beautiful results that one can continue to enjoy for some time. Also, there is a sense of pride and accomplishment that is felt when you see your flowers or vegetables growing. An added bonus to this particular activity is having fresh cut flowers to enjoy and brighten your day, or being able to cook and enjoy fresh organic healthy food you have grown yourself.
Volunteering
Spending your free hours volunteering at the library, your local YMCA, community center, or animal shelter is a great way to spend a few hours of your time. Programs that depend on their volunteer support often suffer when there is a lack of dedicated souls to help them maintain their vision and bring their services to the community. Not only does volunteering help your community, but while doing work that benefits others, it is therapeutic to you as well, and is an excellent way to get out of the house and develop new relationships.
Going back to school
Now that you have all this free time on your hands and a little extra cash in your pocket, it is a great opportunity for you to take a course or two at your local community college or university. Did you ever want to learn about anthropology or did you want to maybe learn to speak Spanish or French? Now is your chance. Take advantage of your open schedule and further your education.
Extreme sports
In a time when nearly everyone at every age is working on creating and checking off their bucket lists, seniors are being encouraged to participate in more extreme sports than ever before. It is almost common place to see a 60 or 70 year old bungee jumping or water skiing these days. Why not, what an exciting and exhilarating hobby to have, you can guarantee it will never be boring. Just be careful not to push yourself past your physical limits and risk injury.
Traveling
If you are lucky, by the time you are considered a “senior,” you will have a small bit of expendable funds that you may be able to designate towards traveling. I suppose through your lifetime you have accumulated a list of places you wish to see at some point or would like to visit. Traveling is a fantastic hobby to have ads it will continue to teach you and challenge your mind and spirit as you experience new cultures and people.
Dance
Dancing is a classic sport and is great for the soul as well as your physical well being. The fact that it is an activity that requires focus, memory and attention to rhythmic activity will help to keep your mind sharp. It is also a great way to meet other people with similar interests, and learn about other cultures as you study different styles and their history.
Cooking
There are few hobbies that are quite as satisfying as cooking. There are always new developments in the culinary world and its technology, and it is a field completely dependent on creativity, so there is no limit to what you can do with food if you have the time to try. You can also share the fruits of your labor with your family and share your love through your food.
Crafting
There is a new trend in upcycling and crafting these days, and this particular hobby provides you with the wonderful opportunity to turn your hobby into a small business by selling your items on sites like Etsy, or simply using what you create to decorate your own personal space.
George Shaw works with nursing homes in California to keep retired seniors happy, active and healthy.
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