There have been tons of books written on body language but I just need to add my 2 cents worth. This is three comments on body language from the over 50 perspective.
My wife tells me that young guys don't look at her any more. (She's mid-fifties & looks good, she's well preserved but, yes, well over forty-five.) I tell her that all us older guys certainly do look at her. And, of course, I get this look that says, better than words, "Don, I love you but you are a total idiot. I don't give a shit about you old guys." Hmmmm. Is this one of those lose-lose discussions?
I went out to lunch with a male friend who happens to be about 2 weeks older than I. He's a good looking guy but I never really thought he was vain until he remarks "Did you notice? The girls don't look at us any more." Shit! That is definitely a lose-lose question.
I was in the grocery store today. I've been doing the shopping for us since we got together 25 years ago so I'm familiar with the environment. As I was leaving there was a woman, a fiftyish woman, entering. She was wearing a shirt with a reasonably scooped neck; and she bent over the cart displaying her lovely cleavage! Now, damn! Twenty years ago many women managed this little display for me but it's been a very long time since I've been so honored. Don't know who the woman was or why she did it but I certainly thank her for making my day.
A compliment is a compliment whether in words or gestures. Hope you all got a compliment today.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Yard Sale
I'd like to thank all the people who have left messages of condolence and comfort regarding the difficulty my wife is having with the death of her mother. I'm keeping your ideas in mind while talking with her. One thing that I think you might be missing is that my wife is in her 50's and her mother was 88. We aren't talking about someone who died prematurely.
Since my mother-in-law passed away we've been putting off the difficult job of cleaning out her apartment. This week we started in on the job. We bought a duplex for her over 20 years ago and though she wasn't really a packrat there is just a ton of stuff to go through. We had brought most of the personal stuff to our house and now are planning a yard sale for the 4th of March to dispose of the furniture, appliances & knick-knacks. It is emotionally tough because every now and then my wife is overcome by the memories associated with something. Still, as the apartment is cleaned out it becomes more anonymous; therefore easier to handle.
In the rest of life, things go on. Went to a birthday party for two of my wife's uncles: one just turned 67 and the other is almost to 70. Parties like that make even a guy my age feel young. Well, younger! It makes me want to go out and have fun though because I sure don't know what the future holds. Took various dishes for the potluck dinner but my special contribution was beef jerky. I get the leanest cut of meat I can find, usually round steak. Slice it very thin; like 1/8th an inch. Marinate overnight in soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, liquid smoke & red pepper flakes. Then dry it in a dehydrator. I like to grind some black pepper over the meat when I start the dehydrator for a little extra heat. It is a pain in the ass but not at all difficult and I couldn't keep up with the demand if I tried!
Have a good one everyone!
Update: Wife is over at the Hospice office talking to the 'social worker' about her mom. I hope this woman can help her and, if not, suggest other assistance that we might pursue.
Since my mother-in-law passed away we've been putting off the difficult job of cleaning out her apartment. This week we started in on the job. We bought a duplex for her over 20 years ago and though she wasn't really a packrat there is just a ton of stuff to go through. We had brought most of the personal stuff to our house and now are planning a yard sale for the 4th of March to dispose of the furniture, appliances & knick-knacks. It is emotionally tough because every now and then my wife is overcome by the memories associated with something. Still, as the apartment is cleaned out it becomes more anonymous; therefore easier to handle.
In the rest of life, things go on. Went to a birthday party for two of my wife's uncles: one just turned 67 and the other is almost to 70. Parties like that make even a guy my age feel young. Well, younger! It makes me want to go out and have fun though because I sure don't know what the future holds. Took various dishes for the potluck dinner but my special contribution was beef jerky. I get the leanest cut of meat I can find, usually round steak. Slice it very thin; like 1/8th an inch. Marinate overnight in soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, liquid smoke & red pepper flakes. Then dry it in a dehydrator. I like to grind some black pepper over the meat when I start the dehydrator for a little extra heat. It is a pain in the ass but not at all difficult and I couldn't keep up with the demand if I tried!
Have a good one everyone!
Update: Wife is over at the Hospice office talking to the 'social worker' about her mom. I hope this woman can help her and, if not, suggest other assistance that we might pursue.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Screwy Florida Days
Yesterday was a screwy day. Made breakfast then got smashed drinking and talking mostly about the late mother-in-law. Took a nap then got up and made lentil soup. But rather than eating it, we went out & had Italian. Came home, walked the dog, & stayed up until 02:00 reading. It was definitely a full moon day and night! And to top it all off, it was 39 degrees when I got up this a.m. - brrrr.
My wife is having a LOT of trouble getting over the death of her mother. And I seem to be unable to help her with it. She seems to be unable to escape either talking about her or at least thinking of her. It has been almost a month and it's driving me crazy. SOON we will finish cleaning out her place then we can paint it and get it on the market. Then, maybe, we can go on with life. Hope! Hope! Hope!
Have a good day. It being St. Valentine's Day; someone should kiss a frog. Maybe you'll get a prince/princess. Good luck!
My wife is having a LOT of trouble getting over the death of her mother. And I seem to be unable to help her with it. She seems to be unable to escape either talking about her or at least thinking of her. It has been almost a month and it's driving me crazy. SOON we will finish cleaning out her place then we can paint it and get it on the market. Then, maybe, we can go on with life. Hope! Hope! Hope!
Have a good day. It being St. Valentine's Day; someone should kiss a frog. Maybe you'll get a prince/princess. Good luck!
Monday, February 06, 2006
Quiet Times
Just got finished reading Cinn's post about the Friday from Hell and it reminded me again how glad I am that the kids are out of the house! Cinn has a special handful but all children have those days when they just really want to torture their parents. Even when they are grown up. Best of luck Cinn!
Made Baked Ziti last night. Cook ziti. Spice up a jar of pasta sauce with hamburger, sausage, etc. Layer the ziti, mozzarella, ricotta, and sauce until you fill your largest casserole and bake for 40 minutes. Yum! Only problems are that it takes forever to put together and you have enough to feed a small army. Fortunately it freezes well.
We are off on a trip today to visit relatives who live about 70 miles north of here. We keep our trailer on their property and like to visit them and it occasionally. We usually take them out to dinner to repay their kindness in letting us keep the trailer there. We also perform computer maintenance for them which is the object of this visit. Something has happened to their Outlook Express. Most likely it needs to be deleted and reloaded. Like most Microsoft code; it sucks.
Once in a long while I wonder what would have happened in my life had I joined MS. I got a Comp Sci degree in 1978 from Western Washington in Bellingham, just 90 miles north of Bellevue. Going down there and signing on would certainly have changed my direction. I didn't even try though so we'll never know. Reading 'Five People You Meet In Heaven' was an interesting take on that idea of how our lives are interrelated. And since I met my wife while working in Seattle, we wouldn't have met if I'd been elsewhere, and that would be a sad thing.
Gotta go; have a good day and a good week.
Made Baked Ziti last night. Cook ziti. Spice up a jar of pasta sauce with hamburger, sausage, etc. Layer the ziti, mozzarella, ricotta, and sauce until you fill your largest casserole and bake for 40 minutes. Yum! Only problems are that it takes forever to put together and you have enough to feed a small army. Fortunately it freezes well.
We are off on a trip today to visit relatives who live about 70 miles north of here. We keep our trailer on their property and like to visit them and it occasionally. We usually take them out to dinner to repay their kindness in letting us keep the trailer there. We also perform computer maintenance for them which is the object of this visit. Something has happened to their Outlook Express. Most likely it needs to be deleted and reloaded. Like most Microsoft code; it sucks.
Once in a long while I wonder what would have happened in my life had I joined MS. I got a Comp Sci degree in 1978 from Western Washington in Bellingham, just 90 miles north of Bellevue. Going down there and signing on would certainly have changed my direction. I didn't even try though so we'll never know. Reading 'Five People You Meet In Heaven' was an interesting take on that idea of how our lives are interrelated. And since I met my wife while working in Seattle, we wouldn't have met if I'd been elsewhere, and that would be a sad thing.
Gotta go; have a good day and a good week.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Another.....
Thanks to Cinn the meme is:
the IMperfect partner meme. Or "Let's Get Real!" List 5 imperfections that you find annoying but could or have learned to live with. These are NOT deal breakers but they are irritating and annoying. But if your 8 perfect characteristics were met, you could learn to put up with these. Pass this on to 5 people. Preferably those with impossibly high standards.
Well, I'm not going to pass this on; just don't know that many people! However, I can be as picky as anyone. Here goes:
1. Some people HAVE to get in the last word. Even at the cost of yelling something at you from the next room as you or they leave. Bah!
2. Some people seem incapable of putting things away.
3. If I wanted your opinion, I'd ask. Can you possibly shut up? I'm not talking about discussions, I'm talking about offering an opinion on things that are none of your business when you aren't even involved in the conversation.
4. White people who use Black expressions (should be widened to include all who use expressions that belong to other groups): women calling one another 'Sister'; guys calling one another 'homey'; etc.
5. The inability to exist in a quiet environment. Some people have to have the tv on; radio on; have someone to talk to; etc. all of the time. I like some tv; I play the radio & CDs; I like conversation but sometimes it is nice to sit quietly and read or think or just be.
BTW, since I am married, my wife certainly has some of the above traits (not all, thank goodness). I wouldn't be annoyed about them if she didn't. I mean, would I care if Cinn played the tv all day?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Not a quiet day in the neighborhood. It was 78 and sunny yesterday. A heavy shower, formed by a cold front coming in, got stalled above the area. There are estimates that some parts of St Pete got 12 inches of rain today and it isn't over! In our neighborhood it is probably more like 5 or 6 but still it's a heck of a lot of rain.
Made what I call Fried Rice for lunch. Not the real thing for sure but we like it and it got rid of the chicken breast that was bothering me!
Diced chicken breast marinated in soy sauce & vermouth, rice, sliced mushroom, green onion & 6 or 8 cloves of garlic. Haven't made it in a long time & got the proportions AFU but it was still ok. Next time; more mushroom & green onion.
Have a good one!
the IMperfect partner meme. Or "Let's Get Real!" List 5 imperfections that you find annoying but could or have learned to live with. These are NOT deal breakers but they are irritating and annoying. But if your 8 perfect characteristics were met, you could learn to put up with these. Pass this on to 5 people. Preferably those with impossibly high standards.
Well, I'm not going to pass this on; just don't know that many people! However, I can be as picky as anyone. Here goes:
1. Some people HAVE to get in the last word. Even at the cost of yelling something at you from the next room as you or they leave. Bah!
2. Some people seem incapable of putting things away.
3. If I wanted your opinion, I'd ask. Can you possibly shut up? I'm not talking about discussions, I'm talking about offering an opinion on things that are none of your business when you aren't even involved in the conversation.
4. White people who use Black expressions (should be widened to include all who use expressions that belong to other groups): women calling one another 'Sister'; guys calling one another 'homey'; etc.
5. The inability to exist in a quiet environment. Some people have to have the tv on; radio on; have someone to talk to; etc. all of the time. I like some tv; I play the radio & CDs; I like conversation but sometimes it is nice to sit quietly and read or think or just be.
BTW, since I am married, my wife certainly has some of the above traits (not all, thank goodness). I wouldn't be annoyed about them if she didn't. I mean, would I care if Cinn played the tv all day?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Not a quiet day in the neighborhood. It was 78 and sunny yesterday. A heavy shower, formed by a cold front coming in, got stalled above the area. There are estimates that some parts of St Pete got 12 inches of rain today and it isn't over! In our neighborhood it is probably more like 5 or 6 but still it's a heck of a lot of rain.
Made what I call Fried Rice for lunch. Not the real thing for sure but we like it and it got rid of the chicken breast that was bothering me!
Diced chicken breast marinated in soy sauce & vermouth, rice, sliced mushroom, green onion & 6 or 8 cloves of garlic. Haven't made it in a long time & got the proportions AFU but it was still ok. Next time; more mushroom & green onion.
Have a good one!
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