I am taking a Feng Shui course at the Lifelong Learning College. The class is taught by Dr. Ina Anderson, a bright, interesting person that I met at a discussion group at All About Art, a little boutique in Bellview. She has a wonderful broad based knowledge of the subject and a common sense Westernized approached to this ancient Chinese art. I am learning a great deal and am committed to organizing my messy life to help better channel my chi (energy).
One afternoon at the square last year RC and I were leisurely enjoying the busy season bustle and warm sun, when this guy taps RC on the shoulder. He says “Don’t you just love this place?” A total stranger couldn’t contain his enthusiasm any longer and just had to share his feelings about where we live. How many communities can boast that kind of resident reaction? We are truly blessed to be retired to TV.
I know there are problems and inequities in TV. I am generally glad that people like the POA are functioning in a watchdog role, but I can’t imagine why someone would choose to occupy the larger part of their lives to focus on the negative aspects of this place that we have chosen to live. Me, I am currently content to revel in the 90 percent good stuff that is going on in my life.
We joked when we first came to visit TV 5 years ago, that they put funny stuff in the water supply to make everyone so happy. The truth is that I have observed the community watch trucks spraying something late at night. Mosquito spray they claim, Prozac I suspect. Don’t you just love it here?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Crash
I have been reminded of why I don’t go anywhere this time of the year by car. Yesterday I drove my daughter and her boyfriend to the airport. We had a wonderful long weekend together, although it passed too quickly. The guys like to golf on Sundays (and every other day), so I drove them to Orlando by myself.
I decided to stop into the new Sam’s Club on the way home. What a mistake! Parking was impossible and it was a zoo inside. The checkout line snaked around to the back of the store and the aisles were so full, it was impossible to take advantage of my favorite part of the Sam’s Club experience, food samples. Frustrated, I abandoned my shopping cart and decided to come back another day when the novelty had worn off. I did get my favorite Sam’s lunch of a Nathan’s hot dog and large drink for $1.82.
On my way out I decided to head into Leesburg to pick up a couple of things at Dockside. I was heading towards 441/27 in the left turn lane when this nut made a U turn from the right lane, right in front of me and hit the front end of my car.
From there in only gets worse; this hot head comes over to my car and starts yelling, in my face, that I was going to fast. OMG, this old coot just about gave me a heart attack, and he wants to shift the blame on me. He didn’t want to show me his license and when I told him I needed to confirm that he actually had a license he indignantly informed me that he was not an American (he is a Britt), and that should assure me that he obeyed the law. What? What does that even mean? Americans have no regard for the law? I got back into my car, rolled up the window, and called the cops.
One full hour later, he got a ticket for improper lane change, and while still chirping at me over his shoulder, got back in his car and headed home. His big mouth cost him another $140 for improper lane change, did a couple of thousand dollars damage to my car, and ruined my mellow Sunday plans.
I hope my golf cart will take me wherever I need to go until May. My sympathies to his poor wife.
I decided to stop into the new Sam’s Club on the way home. What a mistake! Parking was impossible and it was a zoo inside. The checkout line snaked around to the back of the store and the aisles were so full, it was impossible to take advantage of my favorite part of the Sam’s Club experience, food samples. Frustrated, I abandoned my shopping cart and decided to come back another day when the novelty had worn off. I did get my favorite Sam’s lunch of a Nathan’s hot dog and large drink for $1.82.
On my way out I decided to head into Leesburg to pick up a couple of things at Dockside. I was heading towards 441/27 in the left turn lane when this nut made a U turn from the right lane, right in front of me and hit the front end of my car.
From there in only gets worse; this hot head comes over to my car and starts yelling, in my face, that I was going to fast. OMG, this old coot just about gave me a heart attack, and he wants to shift the blame on me. He didn’t want to show me his license and when I told him I needed to confirm that he actually had a license he indignantly informed me that he was not an American (he is a Britt), and that should assure me that he obeyed the law. What? What does that even mean? Americans have no regard for the law? I got back into my car, rolled up the window, and called the cops.
One full hour later, he got a ticket for improper lane change, and while still chirping at me over his shoulder, got back in his car and headed home. His big mouth cost him another $140 for improper lane change, did a couple of thousand dollars damage to my car, and ruined my mellow Sunday plans.
I hope my golf cart will take me wherever I need to go until May. My sympathies to his poor wife.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Briana
My youngest daughter, Briana and her boyfriend Anthony are in for a long weekend. I haven’t seen them in a while because she is always working. She is a big rig driver and is currently hauling groceries for Kroeger’s in Ohio. She is a hard worker with a strong determined will. I am so proud her. It is really good to see them both. I wish they lived closer.
We joined 19 friends and family for the fish fry at Orange Blossom Country Club. The food was great and a good value (AYCE fish for $10.95) and our server, Rachel was extraordinary! She was efficient and patient with us (gabbing while we should have been deciding what we wanted to eat), and the order came out in a flash, with barely a glitch.
We are taking them to Silver Springs today to see 38 Special. If you live here in TV and have not gotten your season pass to Silver Springs you are missing out on the bargain of all bargains. This nature park is old Florida at its best. It is Florida before Disney. It is where classics like Tarzan, Sea Hunt and I Spy were filmed. The beauty of the Springs and River by way of glass bottom boat rides alone are worth the $69. yearly pass price but when you add the free concerts (last year included Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys to name a few) and the Christmas festival of lights it is too good to pass up. This jewel is only 25 miles north of us, very handicap friendly and I recommend the experience to everyone young and young at heart.
We joined 19 friends and family for the fish fry at Orange Blossom Country Club. The food was great and a good value (AYCE fish for $10.95) and our server, Rachel was extraordinary! She was efficient and patient with us (gabbing while we should have been deciding what we wanted to eat), and the order came out in a flash, with barely a glitch.
We are taking them to Silver Springs today to see 38 Special. If you live here in TV and have not gotten your season pass to Silver Springs you are missing out on the bargain of all bargains. This nature park is old Florida at its best. It is Florida before Disney. It is where classics like Tarzan, Sea Hunt and I Spy were filmed. The beauty of the Springs and River by way of glass bottom boat rides alone are worth the $69. yearly pass price but when you add the free concerts (last year included Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys to name a few) and the Christmas festival of lights it is too good to pass up. This jewel is only 25 miles north of us, very handicap friendly and I recommend the experience to everyone young and young at heart.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Cruel Role Reversal
My in-laws are down for a month. Dad is going to be 90 this year and mom, well we say her memory is going, but the truth is she has Alzheimer’s. It is a cruel disease. She was a feisty, spitfire never at a loss for words. Opinionated and our fun, ever ready travel companion, it is difficult to see her withdraw in social situations for fear she will say or do the wrong thing.
They both served during WWII and that is the constant topic of conversation. It is sad to see that generation defined by a terrible war, and sadder to see the war she now fights inside her mind. She is at the stage that is perhaps the most difficult. She has many lucid periods, during which she is aware that she has forgotten things. She gets confused and embarrassed and sometimes angry at the tricks her mind is playing on her.
Dad is from the generation that men were not accustomed to being caregivers. The men went to work and were off the clock and in the easy chair when they came through the door. He always looked disdainfully at his son’s active participation in the care and feeding of our children and his domestic partnership with me. Now, he is forced to cook and clean and care for mom, and is doing his best though he is not happy about his unexpected role.
Dad told me that they have been retired for 23 years this year. They owned a TV and Appliance business in Lockport, NY. Since they retired they have done very little other than hang on to a house that is too big on 60 acre farm that he cannot manage in a climate that is cruel and harsh on old bones. They didn’t like to travel much because they had to leave the house (fear of break-ins or water damage), and they couldn’t afford to do the things they would have liked to because the farm cost them a fortune in taxes and upkeep. From my vantage point it seems like a lot of good years squandered.
I am thankful that my husband didn’t inherit all of his father’s German stubbornness. I am thankful that we had the courage to leave the big house and snow covered community where we worked and raised our family, behind. I am thankful for our health, and our ability to retire young. I feel fortunate to be able to complain about cold temperatures of 60 degrees (and no snow shovel required). I am happy we found this community in which to write the next chapter of our lives.
There is a lesson in here and I think it is my old friend “Carpe Diem”. Yes, seize the day! The future outlook holds no good news for Dad and Mom. His mother lived to be over 100, and it looks like they may both give her a run for the record. My mother used to say "These are the “Golden Years”, bull ----." I prefer to say make hay while the sun shines in The Villages!
They both served during WWII and that is the constant topic of conversation. It is sad to see that generation defined by a terrible war, and sadder to see the war she now fights inside her mind. She is at the stage that is perhaps the most difficult. She has many lucid periods, during which she is aware that she has forgotten things. She gets confused and embarrassed and sometimes angry at the tricks her mind is playing on her.
Dad is from the generation that men were not accustomed to being caregivers. The men went to work and were off the clock and in the easy chair when they came through the door. He always looked disdainfully at his son’s active participation in the care and feeding of our children and his domestic partnership with me. Now, he is forced to cook and clean and care for mom, and is doing his best though he is not happy about his unexpected role.
Dad told me that they have been retired for 23 years this year. They owned a TV and Appliance business in Lockport, NY. Since they retired they have done very little other than hang on to a house that is too big on 60 acre farm that he cannot manage in a climate that is cruel and harsh on old bones. They didn’t like to travel much because they had to leave the house (fear of break-ins or water damage), and they couldn’t afford to do the things they would have liked to because the farm cost them a fortune in taxes and upkeep. From my vantage point it seems like a lot of good years squandered.
I am thankful that my husband didn’t inherit all of his father’s German stubbornness. I am thankful that we had the courage to leave the big house and snow covered community where we worked and raised our family, behind. I am thankful for our health, and our ability to retire young. I feel fortunate to be able to complain about cold temperatures of 60 degrees (and no snow shovel required). I am happy we found this community in which to write the next chapter of our lives.
There is a lesson in here and I think it is my old friend “Carpe Diem”. Yes, seize the day! The future outlook holds no good news for Dad and Mom. His mother lived to be over 100, and it looks like they may both give her a run for the record. My mother used to say "These are the “Golden Years”, bull ----." I prefer to say make hay while the sun shines in The Villages!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Shucks, they got me again!
I have not had time to blog this week as I have been taken hostage. My gang here talked me into taking a part time job. I don’t mean to whine (or do I), but I didn’t mean for this to happen. I have been perfectly happy in my new role as lady of leisure. While many of my friends have missed the structure and social aspects of a job, I did not. Sure we have made some adjustments financially since we have retired, but all in all, the things that I have cut back on, I seem to be living fine without.
It is only 3 hours a day and the pay is good but I liked to go to water aerobics at that time of day. My husband convinced me that our daughters last semester at NU and my kitchen remodel would be easier to finance if I’d take this little courier job for a bit, but I feel duped. I think that was the same line I was fed when I started at GM 30 some years ago. Did I fall for that trick again? Well it’s only for a bit, right?
It is only 3 hours a day and the pay is good but I liked to go to water aerobics at that time of day. My husband convinced me that our daughters last semester at NU and my kitchen remodel would be easier to finance if I’d take this little courier job for a bit, but I feel duped. I think that was the same line I was fed when I started at GM 30 some years ago. Did I fall for that trick again? Well it’s only for a bit, right?
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