2014 New Year Resolutions

New Year Resolutions by rlsimpson Jan 1, 2014

I do not make them.

I tried once upon a time, maybe, or maybe it was someone else in my other life. Don’t keep them , don’t waste my life making them.  I am just happy to wake up each morning and after my nap. I would love to keep getting healthier and maybe loose a lot more weight –but really, it is not worth making a resolution for, is it?

 I have decided to keep a positive vibe jar. It is a plastic jar with a screw top lid that started out its life as a peanut filled pretzel container. They were not that good and I tried to pour boiling water over the glued on labels –only to melt the container, so that it sags a little to the side. I am thinking contact paper. –Into this jar, I will put slips of paper in, having written on laughing out loud moments of my life. I started today, Jan 1,2014. I will read them all on Dec 31,2014.

 I already have one. Today, because we are expecting snow, I backed my front wheel drive car up my steep driveway. It took me 4 maybe 5 times to get it in the right position. By the time I was finished I was laughing out loud at my silly self. Ok so little things amuse me. I haven’t actually put the slip of paper in the container because I have to wash it out, and find the just right contact paper at the dollar store.

I also have given myself one habit to make. I will look people in the eyes when I smile at them. When I lost that ability and reverted back to my shy, unobservant self, I have no idea. But I do not like that me.

 Oh and a new Mantra from “Eat. Pray, Love”:

 “Never let anyone love you less, than you love yourself.” I really like that.

That should about do it for my 62nd-63rd year.

Long time gone

I can not believe it has been 6 months since I last posted. Why ? I have not been writing -other than for my thrice monthly writig group class assignments -but then  neither have the blogs I follow of people I know. My friend Annie P hasnt written in forever -I suspect she has a secret new blog that I do not have the address to? 

My missionary cousin in Dakar is home for the birth of his first grand child -you would think he would blog about that? 

MY step niece in Argentina came back to the States sans husband to attend her step Dad's marriage and never blogged about that?

Only Mimi Packs Light seems to post semi -regularly.

 I lay the fault at Face Book's feet. All the quick thoughts and reposts that capture my interest enough to comment on, have dealt a nasty blow to my blog. My Bad.

So I post this with the best news: an engagement for my niece Heather to her friend, Matt. She is Happy, my brother is Happy and I am Happy. I met her man for two hours before Thanksgiving 2012, He seems very nice and he treats my niece well. My Mother thinks he looks like a movie star -I think they both do! The wedding is next year. I am loosing weight as we speak. Not as fast as I want but it is coming off and considering I bought the dress a size or two smaller already .......ugh. Now she is picking the venue. I am hoping for Mendenhall Inn near Longwood Gardens.

 I am with Matt on this one, pick a place and tell me when to show up.  As long as she is Happy...........:)))

 

Merry Christmas 2012

I love getting together at my Sister in Laws and Brothers home for Christmas Day dinner. I traveled early this year the 2 hrs West and North to my home town. My brother invited me to attend his church on Christmas Eve with them and go afterwards to his Mother in Laws for a get together with her family. My sister in law asked me to bring my gifts so I could exchange them with my brothers family. My sister and her husband were joining us on Christmas Day for dinner and we would do their gift exchange Christmas Day. It worked out well -less confusion. This is our second year without My sister in laws Father and we miss him. We miss my Parents also, who stayed in Florida for the Holiday. Christmas Day, we had 2 little tweens that belonged to my younger nieces' gentleman friend. 8 and 7 year old girls, they were wonderful and just made my Christmas. We usually sing Christmas Carole's and even have  music for the words and bells. The little girls, almost asleep on there feet, stayed for one song. JINGLE BELLS. It was wonderful full of laughter and love. I hated to see them leave for the two hour drive home. I brought a sugar free jello low fat cream cheese low sugar fruit cocktail desert. It turned out well. I was able to meet the next day for a little shopping (sales) and lunch, all in the snow. The next day meet with some HS girl friends for a last minute dinner. It was a nice visit. But now I am home and my little house is still decorated just the way I like it. Today I went back to my gym for the first time in 5days -I lost 2 lbs. Oh Thank YOU Jesus !

Merry Christmas To ALL and To ALL A Healthy NEW YEAR 2013

Favorite Things

OHOOO I just love Christmas Pins and Scarves-well I like all scarves and pins but especially Christmas -and I only buy used or vintage and Yard Sales and Thrift stores -I get a kick out of knowing some lady passed her Christmas Pin to me to wear.

 I just pulled a Christmas Tree pin out of my collection and I must never have worn it before because the clasp was on upside down and did not line up =LOL I now know why it was on sale. 

OH well maybe I make it into something.

 Ideas?

Christmas Letter 2012

OH my I swore I would never write another Christmas Letter and went to Alaska last year for my 60th birthday and sent a card with a picture. Everyone (except my BFF) liked it but so many asked me where was my letter? I thought no one did letters any more? Saturday Night Live does skits about people who write Christmas Letters. Then I saw this cartoon on Facebook that I loved and decided oh well why not. So here it is:




 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year To ALL

John with his new niece

Here I am writing another Christmas Letter. So now I am 61 and the world may or may not end at the end of the year. I am ok with either outcome, not that anyone asked me. Hope this year was wonderful for you. It was for my family. My Best Friend welcomed the arrival of a new niece. My nieces Heather and Rachel, are healthy and seem happy and have nice men on their arms and they all have decent jobs in this economy. My brother Tom, turns 60 in 2013, he and Karen are doing well.. My sister Deb and her Barry are also doing well. My Father is still riding his bike back and forth to the mailbox. Mother said the Canadian neighbors brought them Thanksgiving Dinner this year. I thought that was hysterical –Thanksgiving is such an American Holiday. My parents are the old ones now on their street in Florida.

Dad , Robin and Mother

Ernie loves being retired

During my annual Florida visit, I was able to go to Sarasota and visit my retired friend from Penn State and experienced a drum roll on the beach as the sun set. That was a first for me and what a HOOT. Another first was going to Washington DC with the friends of Avalon Library Trip and touring the Library of Congress .I could have spent the week there. It was awesome. My college roommate Bonnie and husband Paul celebrated the marriage of their son and invited me to be there. It was wonderful and so beautiful. I hosted a Girl Cousin Reunion and we went on a Whale Watch off Cape May. Weather was beautiful and we had fun ! Yes, we did see two whales playing with some dolphins and fishing for their supper.

 All the way to Alaska last year and never saw any whales. LOL

Toni, Deb,Kelly,Robin, Laura

To those of you I haven’t seen this year –know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope 2013 is a Joyous one for ALL of You and Your Families.

GOD Bless and Be Well.

Alone on Thanksgiving By Choice

So here it is, my FAVORITE Holiday -Thanksgiving -with all good memories and I find all my good memories are tied to food. That being said, I wonder why I am having such a hard time with today?

At Grandparents 1955 I was 4,the last time I was a normal weight

I have resumed the healthy eating style that I must maintain for the rest of my life. I am back again on Nutra System Diabetic -already I am seeing good blood sugar control but........I am so newly on this diet plan -no my life long healthy eating plan -that I can not visit anyone today. The smells alone will make me weak in the knees and start my belly rumbling. I know some people can just take a little portion of everything. I CANNOT. Maybe some day but not this year.

 I am alone -with my Thanksgiving parades and food commercials and Black Friday sales/ My other addiction -shopping. Have to turn off the TV. So I planned a DVD -checked out prior to this wonderful holiday (DVD is Emma by Jane Austen and I fear it has affected my writing voice :) . Sent my Godmother a Fall Flower arrangement and talked to her only to find out most of my cousins will not be there and the venue was moved to a second generation cousins house. Wonderful new tradition. Good thing I didn't surprise them and show up. LOL The surprise would have been on me!

The only Good thing about being alone today -is ah ...not being on the road driving. Because right about now I would have been on the road. sigh Anticipating the wonderful smells of Thanksgiving.

Then I really reproach myself for American Woman and Men are serving OUR County, away from their families and loved one -not because they have eaten to much all of their lives -but because they are SOLDIERS. How selfish am I.
 I am also thinking warm thoughts for the Family's who have lost everything to the fury of the storm Sandy and the volunteers who can be around food this year and are helping to make an American Holiday less traumatic.GOD BLESS them ALL.

Ok so this Drama Queen's life will change for the better and enough of this self pity -I am so Thankful for all the Friends that would have welcomed this over-eater into their kitchens and homes today.

The worst part is I have done and keep doing this to myself . I was on this diet before and lost and gained it all back. Now it is a life long healthy eating plan.


 I will be better by Christmas and my Brother and Sister in Law's Traditional Healthy Family Dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Trick or Treat in New Jersey -November 5th 2012

Post Hurricane Sandy -

Our Governor declared that Trick or Treat night (begging night down south) would be postponed until Monday Nov 5th. Some Parents were upset-those that didn't use the delay to explain compassion for fellow children who lost everything even their costumes.

 I was not going to open my door -I am on the new way of eating thru Nutra System and I am no good around all that candy. I use to give out money -the kids seemed to dislike it and I switched to candy then I switched off the lights . I just could not be bothered. But this year -when so many of our little ones in New Jersey are so devastated  -I decided to open my door and turn on my Light. 

Our area had little damage -maybe some branches down -we were so lucky. But now another Nor"Easter with high winds looms over all of us-arriving in two days .  Ok, I admit the pictures and the collections of EVERYTHING has left me a little sad also. I use to love Halloween

It is only 6:45 and I turned off my light no kids for the last half hour ( total 45 in all)-but the ones I had were precious -I love the way the family gets all dressed up with the kids -One young family came up and I gave a two year old and and baby in his Mothers arms the 50cent piece I handed out this year, when the Father said "I remember coming here as a kid and always getting a fifty cent piece".

Was he right ? Did I do that ? I have been here 35years so I guess that is more than enough time for him to grow up with his own kids. 

It made me smile !!!