The 25 not-blogged challenge

As a challenge from a fellow blogger, I'm going to list the 25 blogs I haven't had time to write about (I may not make 25, but I'll give it a go):

1. Our house is relatively empty now. We've raised the kids and off they've gone. Hmmm...this should count for more than one empty blog.

2. Wayne just got back from his yearly cross-state bike ride. Six days of riding a bicycle from the Blue Ridge to the coast. What's vacation to him would be work for me. Totally admire his focus on a goal.

3. Speaking of goals and focus...I really need to lose weight and be healthier...have the desire, just can't seem to get that focus.

4. I've been recently told that I'm officially in the change of life. This one should count for at least five blogs.

5. We just had another awesome family day with Mary in Asheville and Warren Wilson. Love spending time with my girls and better half.

6. Went to an awesome spot in Asheville for breakfast called Sunny Point Cafe. Homemade organic fare with a sunny patio on which to sip your coffee while you wait. Lots of interesting-looking wines that would be fun to try out later in the day.

7. Got a chance to watch Mary work a bit...as an artist. She's been an artist all her life, but now it's official, and it's officially awesome to see what she can do.

8. Moving away from home has been quite a challenge for Amy. So proud of the progress she has made in the last six weeks. Does a parent's heart good.

9. As much as I like my life in North Carolina, it is sometimes quite hard to be far away from people I care about.

10. I recently started volunteering at hospice doing medical transcription. This type of behind-the-scenes job suits me well. It makes me feel good that I've found a way to help people.

11. The piano here has been quiet. That's not right...pianos are supposed to make music.

12. I have a new boss. He's very nice and likeable, but he's almost 20 years my junior. This is a learning experience for both of us. Thank goodness I have friends at work to help me through all the trials and tribulations.

13. I turned 50 this past summer; the doctor has given me the gift of a colonoscopy. It's scheduled for next week. Not really worried about the procedure, just the prep and the result.

14. As a celebration of getting all our kids to 18 and out of the house, my sister-close friend and I are planning a getaway to Los Angeles in February. It's her stomping grounds, so she's gonna show me around. I. am. excited.

15. I currently do more text-messaging than I would have ever thought possible.

16. We had the chance to see our displaced neighbors in Charleston over Labor Day Weekend. It was great fun. Comforting when even though you don't see each other often, you can fall right back into the old routines.

17. Sienna is a dog.

18. My brother is a firefighter, and I think that is just way cool.

19. Laundry multiplies in the dark of night.

20. Pedicures are pretty wonderful. This is a new find for me.

21. I never fully appreciated my parents until I became one myself. Not chiche...the truth. Funny that this is true one generation after another. Do we never learn?

22. I can operate a VCR, but I don't know how to work the Tivo.

23. I rely on my daughter to change the time on my foreign-made watch.

24. Epilepsy (a.k.a. seizure disorder) stinks. Having said that.... Totally admire the way Amy has handled hers, and am so very thankful that her case is not more severe.

25. My life is busy. Sometimes too much, sometimes not enough, and sometimes just right. Not always sure what takes up the time, but it sure does fly....

On My Own

Well...this is new....

On my own for the week. Girls are at college and seemingly doing well. Husband is off riding his bike from mountains to coast.... and here I am...with the dog, of course.

Thinking tonight this feels kinda weird.

Maybe this is the empty nest everyone speaks about? Sure seems empty tonight.

Hmmm......

Change of Season

Today is the first day of autumn. Where the heck did the summer go? Well, I know where it went....a lot happened...but it doesn't seem like it should be over already. Geesh.

I actually like fall weather and the cool foliage colors. What I don't like is the fewer daylight hours. It has been dark when I leave for work the last couple mornings, and there's not much light after dinner in the evening. I guess I'd never make it in Alaska, eh?

The timing seems ironic as I recently learned that I myself have entered the autumn of my life. Not such a bad thing, really. At least I still have the winter to go after that...

Family Day

Ever since the girls were little, we've done "family days" on a regular basis. Now they are both growed-up and off doing their own things, so we don't have much opportunity to do that any more.

The cool part, though, is that we still can. Maybe they don't happen as often, and maybe they're not as well planned out....but they are still times we spend together.

What I've come to realize is it doesn't matter what we're doing or where we are, but when we have a chance to spend some time hanging out together...that's a "family day." I love it.

These pictures were taken in a Starbucks that used to be a bank. We're hanging in the vault sippin' our Frappucinos...gathered together (and goofing around) for Lenoir-Rhyne's family weekend.

Getting back on the horse...

Gosh! Six months since my last post?! Time sure does fly. I knew I had gotten behind, but....

OK, I'm gonna make a more concerted effort to get back on here.

It's been a crazy, nice, hectic, calm six months.

More details to follow.... :-)

Location, location, location

Why do they do this? What were they thinking? They put the jeans label right where it gets caught in the zipper.

Oh, sure, you can hold the label out of the way when you zip, and then there's no problem. But that doesn't always happen when you're in a hurry.

Yes, you could cut out the label, but that's not a viable option for me. Unfortunately, I have different sizes of jeans in my closet - depending on the month, day, or sometimes hour - and need to see those labels.

Why can't they just put them in the back of the waistband like they used to?

Being Green

I've mentioned some things we try to do here to be more "green," easier on the environment, gentler to the earth.

I used to do this many years ago - but haven't lately - using my hand as note paper. Maybe she's saving a tree? I just hope the ink is nontoxic.