humor

63 Things I’ve Learned in 63 Years

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JackieP

Hello everyone! Yes, I know it’s been a very long time since I posted anything. Since early March, actually. Why? Because life sometimes has a way of making me so tired. Things have straightened out a bit since then. I’m at a new ‘normal’ around here.

Quick catch up, then I’ll get to this new post. Most of you will remember the health problems of the husband in the past few years. First colon cancer, got that beat as he is now officially three years cancer free! Then he had a stroke in late October of last year. He’s still getting over that one. There have been a few stays in the hospital for pneumonia here and there but he seems to be stable now. Thank goodness. Time to breath!

Life can be hard but I keep plodding along. As for me, I’ve had a terrible bout of insomnia since May. So yeah, I get kind of tired.

I’m back now. I do hope to stick around too. I don’t know how often I will post, I’m going to try for once a week and go from there. As to what I will post? Who the hell knows. We’ll see what happens.

Now, the reason for this post. Today is my birthday! Yeah, ok, keep the cheering down. I’m sixty-three today. Shit, that seems like such a big number! I hope to see sixty-four. My body feels like it’s ninety-three while my mind feels twenty-three yet. I’m young at heart people with an old woman’s outlook. Ha!

Anyway, my friend Mer had her 44th birthday last month and she came up with a post with 44 things she learned in her 44 years. So, thanks Mer, I’m stealing your idea!

Let’s get this party started!

63 Things I’ve Learned in 63 Years

No matter how broke you are….treat yourself sometimes
Age is a state of mind, not a number
A pet can save your sanity
Never just settle for a life partner, you won’t be happy and neither will they
Accept yourself….no other opinion means more
Drink lots of water
Life is going to throw you some curve balls….Learn to go with it, it all works out in the end
Getting hurt is part of life
Don’t trust someone your dog doesn’t like!
Life is damn short—-Live it!
Don’t hold grudges
If you have a life partner always have some of your own money tucked away, have your own bank account
If there is something you’ve always wanted to do….Do it! (Unless it hurts you or someone else)
Don’t be afraid to have your own ideas or beliefs, you don’t need to be the same as everyone else
Don’t be afraid of growing older, some of it sucks but some of its great.
It’s necessary for your wellbeing to say NO sometimes
Trust your gut instinct
Don’t do something or be someone to just please the family. They don’t live your life. You do!
If someone lies to you…..they will keep lying to you
Don’t be peer pressured or family pressured into having kids. If you don’t want them, don’t have them. The world will do just fine.
Once a cheater, always a cheater. Same goes for a spouse abuser. They won’t change no matter how much you think they will.
Act silly sometimes
You can’t herd cats very well
Always carry extra undies in your purse when traveling. (sorry guys, don’t know what you would do) That way when your luggage is lost you have clean undies for the next day. No one wants to put on the same undies two days in a row.
Also, when traveling keep extra cash on your person.
If you’re on a diet, don’t burn vanilla scented candles
Coffee is the worlds apology for making you get out of bed
Whoever decided grocery shopping online and delivery service was a good thing should be given an award! I love it!
Music really does soothe the soul
Be impulsive sometimes, it can lead to wonderful things
Tell the people who you love that you do love them. It might be the last chance you get
You don’t need a lot of friends
What friends you do have, let them know you appreciate them
Always use a grammar and spell check when writing…..saves some embarrassment
Read different things, even if you don’t think you will like the genre, sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised
Keep a positive attitude, it will bring about positive things in your life
You don’t need to be religious to be a good person
Swearing is not unladylike
Sometimes have a resting bitch face saves you from having to actually BE a bitch
There is nothing wrong with eating your favorite comfort food sometimes
I love my attitude
No matter how much advice you can give a person, they will only take what they think they need and not what they actually need
People usually don’t want that advice anyway, they just want to vent
I’ve learned that being unhappy with my life at times was my own fault and only I could change it
I’m fascinated by dragonflies
I still believe in that Christmas magic can happen
I have a young child’s awe of Mother Nature
I’ve learned that being the ‘quiet one’ is not a personality flaw
I’ve come to accept that I will never be thin and that’s ok with me
I know now that my happiness lies in me, not someone or something else
Making a list this long is damn hard!
I love challenging my mind. I think that’s what keeps me young
I prefer silence over noise or talking
You can learn a lot about someone just by observing them
I don’t forgive easily
I never forget either
People are generally nice given a chance
There are always exceptions to the rule
I still prefer animals over people
Trying to win approval from my mother was a lifelong difficulty and never truly achieved
I’m hard to love but worth the effort
If you were looking for deep, inspirational things from me you probably didn’t get it ….hahahaha
Maybe next year I will be wiser….I’ll be older, so there is that small chance

Don’t count on it!

Humor

Who Doesn’t Like a Little Levity?

Posted on January 17, 2018 by JackieP

Blogging, Humor, poetry, writing

There Once Was……..

Posted on January 11, 2018 by JackieP

There once was a woman who wrote……..

Stories, poems, notes…….

She wrote and wrote and had a grand time…….

Putting words down for others to read…..

Was a habit, no wait, a need……

Now she has stopped because life got in the way……

Too much to do and little to say…….

Then the New Year came……

And she vowed it would not stay the same…..

Making a promise to write again with renewed vigor……

Only to find herself doing nothing but spewer…….

Silly little rhymes instead of something of note…..

So, I hope you’ll excuse my false little promise……

That I made in a moment of blitheness…..

I thought life would be different……..

But Life thought me too flippant…..

All I could come up with after thinking and plotting…..

Was this silly little poem that will make you think I’m dotty…….

Because the rhyming is all wrong ……..

And it’s silliness is overlong……

But, that’s all I got on this cold winters day…..

Is a dumb little poem that won’t garner any applause……

Named so appropriately, ‘There Once Was’………

Cee's Share Your World, Mi Vida Loca, questions and answers

Share Your World ~~~ Sept. 18 & 25, 2017

Posted on September 26, 2017 by JackieP

Hey, everyone! This week you get two weeks worth of Cee’s Share Your World in one! Aren’t you lucky duckies.

I had been having computer problems for a while when last week my computer decided to keep giving me the dreaded blue screen. I would be in the middle of something and POOF! Off it would go and up came the blue screen. Very frustrating. I finally had to break down and get a new one. Such an expensive pain but I can’t live without one….sooooooo……..I deal with it.

Needless to say, I missed doing SYW last week so I decided to combine this week and last weeks into one. Here goes……..

Complete this sentence: I want to learn more about …

Everything I’m interested in. Like, writing and painting. I would also love to learn more about my ancestors. My parents were not ones to talk about family. Most of them they ignored and feuded with. So, I don’t know a lot about the past or ancestors. Both my parents are gone now and even when I did ask my mothers questions she either would say she didn’t know or ignore the questions. I have no idea where to start but I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately.

On a vacation what you would require in any place that you sleep?

What is this ‘vacation’ you speak of? Well, when I used to have them or afford them and actually go somewhere I always needed a fan. I need that white noise and the air circulating to sleep. Although truth be told, I have never been able to sleep well in strange rooms or beds. I need my own.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I just bought it! Computers. I must have my computer and for me, in my money situation, it is an extravagance. So, I save, tighten the belt in other areas and buy it.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Going indoors. LOL I’m not much of an outdoor person anymore. I used to be when I was much younger. I would go camping and ride bikes and such. Haven’t done any of that in many years and don’t want to. I’m basically lazy. I don’t like bugs and am allergic to bees. I do sit outside when it’s nice with Sam (my dog) and watch the birds and the dragonflies. We had a robins nest in our front yard bush this summer. I would sit out and watch momma and daddy bird bring the three babies worms and bugs. I watched the babies first flight out of the nest too. I had to keep Sam from chasing the poor little things but it was exciting to watch.

In a car would you rather drive or be a passenger?

It depends. If I don’t like someone’s driving, I would rather drive. Even though I don’t do it a lot. I have no sense of direction. So if I don’t know exactly where I am going or haven’t been there a dozen times I get lost. It’s so embarrassing. I get lost so easily. I have even gotten lost going someplace I have been to lots of times, like the hospital. I still can’t drive there myself. I get lost. It’s bad folks.

If you could have three wishes granted for you alone, what would they be?

To have an endless supply of tax-free money so I wouldn’t have to worry about how to pay the bills and buy groceries for the month.
To have my health back.
To own a place where I could rescue lots of animals and take care of them.

I’m going to add a fourth wish here:

To be able to visit and help (if they needed it) all my online friends. I love you guys! ❤

How is your week going? Anything newsworthy? Let me know!

Cee's Share Your World, Mi Vida Loca, questions and answers

Share Your World ~~~ August 21, 2017

Posted on August 23, 2017 by JackieP

Cee, who usually hosts Share Your World is on a mini vacation this week. So Emilio kindly offered to host this weeks edition. Thanks, Emilio!

You can find Emilio’s blog here. While you’re there take a look around, he’s a wonderful photographer!

So, here we go with Emilio’s questions and my answers.

Have you ever been pulled over by a cop?

Once that I remember. Many years ago I was living in Nacogdoches, Texas. I was piss poor broke and couldn’t afford my tags for my car that year. I also couldn’t afford insurance but I needed my car to get around and look for work. I pulled into the local Wal-Mart parking lot to put in my application for employment and I just happened to be spotted by a cop. As I got out of my car to go inside he stopped me and asked about my out of date tags. I told him my sob story and he let it pass without a ticket but warned me to get my tags somehow, someway. Also, until then not to drive unless I have to. He was a nice, understanding guy.

What have you always wanted? Did you get it?

I’ve always wanted to live in the woods in a small cabin with nothing around but wildlife and trees. Did I get it? Um, no. Don’t see me ever getting it either unless I win the lottery. And that you have to play to win. Which I don’t. Well, sometimes I do. The husband does, so I’m hoping he’ll win it for me.

What is your perfect pizza?

I’m kind of fussy about my pizza. I absolutely will not have fruit of any kind on it! My perfect pizza is sausage, pepperoni, onion, mushrooms, black olives and extra cheese. Mmmmm, now I want pizza.

What inspired you this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.

Coffee inspires me. It helps me through the good times, the bad times and the boring times. Coffee is my life blood. 😉

Hope everyone is having a good week. Hang in there if you aren’t because everything is temporary, especially the bad stuff.

Cee's Share Your World, Mi Vida Loca, questions and answers

Share Your World ~~~ July 24, 2017

Posted on July 26, 2017July 26, 2017 by JackieP

Hello, People! Or at least the five people who usually read my posts now. You few are very loyal and I appreciate each and every one of you.

Time for Cee’s Share Your World for this week.

List some of your favorites types of teas.

I like most teas, except ones with mint in them. I drink a lot of green tea, sometimes flavored with ginger and honey. Very good for the old tummy. When I lived in Texas I became a fan of iced tea or sweet tea as they call it down south. I haven’t had any in many years. If I can’t have coffee, I’ll take tea.

If you had to describe your day as a traffic sign, what would it be?

That’s about how I’ve been feeling lately.

What are a couple of things could people do for you on a really bad day that would really help you?

If I’m having a really bad day, the best thing is to just leave me alone. Really. If you give me a hug I would start crying. If you gave me advice I probably wouldn’t take it. Now, if someone were to offer to help me clean house or do the dishes or clean the bathrooms or just to help out around here, that would be great. Don’t see that ever happening.

Regardless of your physical fitness, coordination or agility: If you could be an athlete what would you do? Remember this is SYW, dreaming is always allowed.

It will have to be dreaming at this point in my life! Or at any point! Haha! I was never very sporty.

Let’s see……I think it would be something like tennis. Or barrel racing! Yeah, now that would be fun. I pick barrel racing!

See you next time!

Cee's Share Your World, Mi Vida Loca, questions and answers

Share Your World ~~~ July 3, 2017

Posted on July 4, 2017 by JackieP

Hope everyone is having a safe and happy holiday. Remember to keep those pets safe while fireworks are set off.

Now for the questions and answers! Here are Cee’s Share Your World questions for this week.

For your main meal do you prefer sweet and sour, hot and spicy, spicy and sweet, bitter, salty, bland or other?

I would normally have said hot and spicy but since my stomach problems started a few months ago I can no longer eat spicy food. Boo!!!! Nor anything with milk or tomatoes in them. Man, I tell ya, I’m suffering!

Now it’s down to pretty bland food as I can’t have salt either. As I keep saying….getting old is not for sissies. LOL

Where do you hide junk when people come over?

Short answer…..I don’t. My animals and I live in this place. Sometimes we are messy. I have come to the conclusion that there is more to life than a clean house. So if you come over and especially if you come over unannounced (give me a few hours) you will come to a house that needs vacuuming and dusting. With dog toys all over the floor.

I do remember one time when I lived with someone else and we both hated doing dishes, she would hide the dirty dishes in the oven when her family came over. LOL

I was never one for hiding how I lived. I have always thought that if someone didn’t like my house like it was, don’t come over. Simple.

What daily habit would you like to introduce to your life?

Exercising. At least taking a daily walk. I can’t seem to find the ambition to do it.

If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?

I really don’t like the circus. I don’t like the animals being in the circus. Now, something like Cirque du Soliel would be nice. It is more people orientated. I would be one of the ladies with the ribbons. Lithe and supple and in complete sync with the music. (A lady can dream, right?)

Cee's Share Your World, Mi Vida Loca

Share Your World ~~~ June 12, 2017

Posted on June 13, 2017 by JackieP

Always a day late and a dollar short. 😉

Here are Cee’s Share Your World questions and my answers for this week.

What do you do when you’re not working? If you are retired, what do you do that is not part of your regular daytime routine?

I haven’t worked a ‘real’ job since I moved to Canada almost 17 years ago. A long time. Now I’m close to retirement age. In fact, I will be officially retired after September when I turn 62. Whew, that seems like a big number in age. I don’t feel any older than I did when I was 32. Eh, we all get to this age at one point if we are lucky. For the last four or five years, I’ve been taking care of the husband who is sickly. That will continue. So really, nothing is different or not part of a regular routine.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Ah, my favorite fantasy. The first thing I would do is help some friends that need help. I would go visit them and give them the gift of relieving their financial nightmares. Then I would build me my cabin in some woods with a wild garden and enjoy life for a change. They say money doesn’t buy happiness but I say let me be the judge of that. 😉

What makes you laugh the most?

My dog Sam. Really. He’s a funny pup and makes me laugh every day, even if I don’t feel like it. He’s a goof with a giant heart. My friends make me laugh too. I’m lucky in that I pick some really funny and kind-hearted people as friends. Sometimes I wonder why they pick me as I’m not all that funny.