Beauty

[just bee]

This will be part of Mindful March: Open my eyes and my ears and take a look around me.

I've already started my research, so what is there besides the dog store?  Pagliacci!  Opera Southwest is staging Pagliacci in March!

Better-half has already cringed at the thought, but I have a month to work on him.

My Italian grandfather would take the bus to Rome to see operas before he and my grandmother left Italy and came to America at the turn of the last century.  Supposedly they had motor buses in Abruzzo back then -- who am I to argue with family lore?

[geezerette]

@just bee

Now I'm really envious of you:  low humidity, mountains, and a dog mall!

(I'm with BH on the opera thing, though.  Maybe The World's Greatest Dog would like to go with you.)

[aprilskies]

Alright, ladies.  This week HEP is going pretty good.  I have been watching what I eat and I have exercised 4 days.  Yippeee.  Now to hold that momentum.  I am ready.  

For fun this year, I wanted to discover some new towns and places.  I have become a bit of a homebody and it isn't good.   So yesterday being so nice, I went and discovered preserved land that was part of an estate that is open to the public. It was 45 mins away and decided to go for a hike.  Well, it didn't turn into a hike, but more of a walk and that was even better.  I need to build up some.  I loved it, it was beautiful.  I will go back in the spring when the trees are in full bloom. I can't imagine that being my back yard.  That is like having your own piece of the world. I wish it was a bit closer, I would go every weekend.  So, this covered HEP and my fun thing for February. 

I am getting motivated to drop these pesky pounds that don't want to leave me. 

I think I am ready for some real changes this year. 

[aprilskies]

---

@just bee wrote:

This will be part of Mindful March: Open my eyes and my ears and take a look around me.

I've already started my research, so what is there besides the dog store?  Pagliacci!  Opera Southwest is staging Pagliacci in March!

Better-half has already cringed at the thought, but I have a month to work on him.

My Italian grandfather would take the bus to Rome to see operas before he and my grandmother left Italy and came to America at the turn of the last century.  Supposedly they had motor buses in Abruzzo back then -- who am I to argue with family lore?

---

Yes, I agree this is one my goals this year.  To just discover what is in my backyard or within reason. I have already started yesterday by discovering a new park/preserved land.  

I also wouldn't mind staying overnight somewhere if I find an interesting place that is not a day trip.  It will give me an opportunity to leave the kitties for a night and see how they do.  I have never left an animal without someone to check in on them but I think a night would be fine. 

[aprilskies]

---

@geezerette wrote:

@just bee

Now I'm really envious of you:  low humidity, mountains, and a dog mall!

(I'm with BH on the opera thing, though.  Maybe The World's Greatest Dog would like to go with you.)

---

Me too.  I would love low humidity.  Probably why I am taking advantage of nice days.  As much as I love summer activities, the heat and humidity keep me inside. ☹️

[just bee]

---

@geezerette wrote:

@just bee

Now I'm really envious of you:  low humidity, mountains, and a dog mall!

(I'm with BH on the opera thing, though.  Maybe The World's Greatest Dog would like to go with you.)

---

@geezerette

Don't call the realtor just yet.  The grass isn't greener here in New Mexico.  In fact, the grass we have is brown and crunchy.  Worse, this state is lurching towards bankruptcy.  I suspect the next gubernatorial election will push us right over the edge.

Doesn't get much news coverage nationally because we're still not known as a state.  What do people think has been sitting between Arizona and Texas since 1912?  Maybe we should start taping U.S. maps to restroom stall doors.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm in a foul mood.  The Millennial coworker who asked me to switch shifts called me last night to tell me she made a mistake.  Clearly they're not teaching students how to read calendars, either.

Looks like my "mini-vacation" is canceled this week.  I won't be shopping with my pet after all.

And Pagliacci probably won't happen either because the time off I scheduled in March will now be spent preparing for Better-half's mother's visit.  She'll be showing up, coincidentally, on our anniversary date.  Don't think she's an opera fan.  Besides, I really don't need to see an opera about a p_ssed-off Italian.  I am a p_ssed-off Italian.

I've decided not to plan anything anymore.  Que sera sera.

[just bee]

---

@aprilskies wrote:

Alright, ladies.  This week HEP is going pretty good.  I have been watching what I eat and I have exercised 4 days.  Yippeee.  Now to hold that momentum.  I am ready.  

For fun this year, I wanted to discover some new towns and places.  I have become a bit of a homebody and it isn't good.   So yesterday being so nice, I went and discovered preserved land that was part of an estate that is open to the public. It was 45 mins away and decided to go for a hike.  Well, it didn't turn into a hike, but more of a walk and that was even better.  I need to build up some.  I loved it, it was beautiful.  I will go back in the spring when the trees are in full bloom. I can't imagine that being my back yard.  That is like having your own piece of the world. I wish it was a bit closer, I would go every weekend.  So, this covered HEP and my fun thing for February. 

I am getting motivated to drop these pesky pounds that don't want to leave me. 

I think I am ready for some real changes this year. 

---

@aprilskies

No truer words.  Maybe when we get to a certain age we accept that we have seen enough of the world.  We spend our lives paying a chunk of our wages for a place to live yet the bulk of the time we spend in it is spent sleeping.

I find I'm often sitting in my home, looking around and thinking to myself:

"Behold!  This is the house that I have worked for and it has been paid off!  Yet it is not mine.  Miss one property tax payment and it will be confiscated."

The rant continues!

[geezerette]

@just bee

Well, you certainly are entitled to a rant, or two.  And you do it so well! 😤  Better to do it here than at work or to Better-Half about his mother, never a good thing.

I am just the opposite of you and @aprilskies about being a homebody, though.  I am, have always been, and probably always will be.  I love it.  No matter where we've lived, I always would rather stay home than travel.  I've gotten so that I don't want to go to town at all anymore.  It's too much work.  I just can't bring myself to go to Walmart in my pajamas like so many do now.  😳

[just bee]

---

@geezerette wrote:

@just bee

Well, you certainly are entitled to a rant, or two.  And you do it so well! 😤  Better to do it here than at work or to Better-Half about his mother, never a good thing.

I am just the opposite of you and @aprilskies about being a homebody, though.  I am, have always been, and probably always will be.  I love it.  No matter where we've lived, I always would rather stay home than travel.  I've gotten so that I don't want to go to town at all anymore.  It's too much work.  I just can't bring myself to go to Walmart in my pajamas like so many do now.  😳

---

@geezerette

I've had homebody periods throughout my life bordering on agoraphobia!  When I was in college I stayed in the area because summers were perfect: Temperatures in the 60s.  The town was small and deserted during those weeks.  I'd have to force myself to go out sometimes.  The motivator was usually the lack of food in the house.

On some level I associate going out with spending money I don't need to spend.  I don't like going out just for the sake of getting the stink blown off, but sometimes it's necessary.  That's why I treasure this dog.  He gets a daily outing and it forces me to go out and about.  So does a job.

I had a boyfriend once comment that I would be happy if I could stay in and have food just slid under the door.

What a concept!

Now today I do want to be out: It's spring here and I really need to address the front yard.  But because it's spring it's windy and ugly.  No use sweeping, so I'm here typing away.

Let me propose this:

I think I'm content to stay home because I don't get bored at home.  I could putter all day and find a million things to keep me amused.

[susandee]

I'm new to the group and am trying to compact seriously this time.  I attempted two years ago and failed miserably.  Started with clothes last week as the Veteran's were looking for women's clothes as well as men's.  Between my closet and my husband's we gave away 7 big bags of high quality, excellent condition items.  The volume of clothes that I hadn't worn (some still with tags), or wore maybe 2x, was mind blowing.  The only clothes in my closet now are ones that fit.  I have one trunk that contains winter clothes one size down and one suitcase with summer clothes one size down.  As a couple we started eating healthier and have lost some weight, but I need to lose ten more pounds in order to wear the stored items.  I will not need to purchase a thing once that happens.  I need to go through my beauty and skincare stash next, it's huge!  But Lord willing, I can get a handle on no purchases.  Honestly, I don't need a stinking thing but those sales are tempting.  We are healthy financially but want to pay off our mortgage over the next few years.  So we have agreed as a couple to tighten up!  My husband just finished his PhD dissertation and will graduate this spring, so we also won't have to pay any more tuition.  I want to get a healthy spending plan in place so we don't feel we can then spend those extra funds.  I want to be free of that mortgage!