Shedding the wolf: Gaggles Of Grackles

2012 - The Plan -- and the Results

1. Meet more people; Invite new guests into my house.

Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.

a. attempt #1: invited neighbors to come over after they indicated an interest in shelling and a curiosity about my shells. They declined, saying they hated to leave their house, and suggested I bring the shells over some time.

b. attempt #2: same neighbor came to door and invited me to take a walk. I invited her in, but she came only as far as the entry way. After our walk, I re-invited her in. She hesitated, and then said she'd like me to come into her house instead, so I went for coffee.

c. attempt #3: postponed until I clean up! What a mess!

d.my neighbor finally came over and had a glass of wine -- right before telling me they were moving that weekend!

e. making things even worse in my dismal social situation, I ended my odd relationship with Dr. Cranky. He finally insulted one too many people I care about and something snapped. But it shook me a little to realize that he was the only non-relative, non-work, non-out-of-state, non-cyber 'friend' I had. Pathetic.

2. Make a plan to have some social contact on my non-family holidays.

Result: Definitely failed at this one, but there will be more holidays ahead so I can keep trying! :)

3. Consider a pet, but try to resist! Remember that travel is more difficult if you have a critter to consider.

a. Hmmmmm. My son told me last week that they will watch a pet for me when I travel and that I should get one if I want to. I wonder what he could be trying to tell me?

Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I resisted, and I'm glad I did. I hope to get a lot more travel done before I tie myself down.

4. Try yoga, once a week.

a. attempt #1: looked into low-cost class offered through work, was warned that it's a talkative (not meditative) class. Not what I had in mind. Plan to look elsewhere. Found out there is an inside track where I can walk for free. Plan to look into that as an alternative.

b. didn't do yoga. didn't walk.

Result: I failed at this until the last two weeks, and I've walked for 20 days in a row since the first of the year, a minimum of a mile a day. I may have failed in 2012, but I'm happy with my progress anyway!

5. Weight Watchers at least monthly.

a. Went in January. Sad face.

b. Went in March. Good grief, very sad face.

c. Didn't go in April or May or June or July or August or September because the situation is only getting worse. I believe this is what they call a slippery slope.

Result: I failed at this, but I lost ten pounds anyway. I'll take it!

6. Fish a few times, go to the Fly Girls retreat, start tying flies again.

a. Went to a February FlyGirls retreat -- learned a couple of new knots and met some nice people.

b. Tied flies with a group class for several weeks.

c. Went to a weekend fly fishing class in June and had a great time, but was exhausted! Fished a couple of times with my brother and caught 2 little bluegills.

d. Meant to go fishing again by myself, but didn't.

Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I didn't fish as much as I'd hoped to, but I improved my skills.

7. Target shoot - try for twice a month; go at least monthly.

a. (January, went to shoot twice; February went once; March, no; April, no; May, once for pistol, once for shotgun. Getting back on track, maybe -- shot twice in October, but then shot a lot since then, and have plans to do more.

Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one - √.

8. Get a freezer. Fill it with dinners and soup. (since I haven't gotten a freezer yet, I'm eating it as fast as I make it!)

Result: I get a Failing grade on this one - maybe next year.

9. Get the schedules for Crow and World Cafe. Go to at least one event at each.

a. Dismal failure. I drive by the Crow almost every day. I wonder if I'll ever stop?

I'm giving myself a Failing grade on this one - maybe next year.

10. Do something memorable with the kids.

a. April - Disney World with family! Definitely memorable!

Result: Passing grade! √

11. Take a vacation with my sister.

a. We went to the west side of the state for a couple of days, and took a short in November.

Result: Pass! √

12. Go to New Orleans to visit.

a. Went on an unexpected trip there in March. Not the trip I had hoped for, but I was there. I've been looking into another trip, but haven't found a date yet when both air and hotel are reasonable.

Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I'm not always responsible for how a trip goes.

13. Find one geocache.

a. Found two! In New Orleans.

b. Found two in Michigan.

Result: I could have done better, but I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.

14. Crafty stuff -- are there lampwork classes nearby? Knit at Barnes & Nobel? Any are better than none.

a. Learned to crochet, learned to quilt and learned to make lampwork beads. Made a couple very cute fairy houses, and am working on a quilt hanging for work, and made an applique quilt for my brother. I'm knitting scarves, made a couple of cute coin purses.

Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.

15. Seriously. Clean the basement.

a. Found evidence of mice in basement. Cleaned off one counter and vacuumed one area.

Result: Dismal failure.

16. Really seriously. Get rid of stuff I am not using.

Result: not even close.

17. Set up a potting table; reassess what to plant in this year's garden.

Result: nope.

18. Learn to scan photos. Scan Rome photos, old family pictures.

a. Scanned the Rome photos, and need to set time aside to get through the many bins of photos in the basement.

Result: did it, but have a ton more to do. Partial credit.

19. Save more.

Result: I did save more, but I'll have to do better this year since my furnace is on the way out . . .

20. Follow a gift budget.

Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I spent more than I should have, but I kept to the budget -- I just made it bigger than was smart, lol.

21. Snorkel with turtles. Or belugas. Or both.

Result: Didn't, but this was a long shot for 2012. Maybe next year.

22. See the northern lights.

Result: Wasn't able to afford this trip this year, but hope springs eternal! :)

23. Find more sharks' teeth.

Result: Found a good handful in November so I get a Passing grade on this one √.

24. Get a new profile picture to update the one from last year.

Result: Forgot all about it.

25. Be open to new ideas.

Result: I learned so many new things in 2012, so I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.

25. Be open to new relationships.

Result: I let a friend introduce me to the man she thinks will be Perfect for me. He apparently didn't think so, but I am glad to have met him, and glad to have tried. I'm giving myself a very happy Passing grade on this one √.

The 2011 LIST: 61 Things to Do Before I'm 62!

√ Make bread at least once a month during the cold weather. [October, check; November, check -- uh oh, cutting back on carbs now! But I made a LOT of bread, including some yummy potato rolls. I give myself a big fat √.]
√√√√√√Host at least 4 giveaways on my blog. [November 2010, check; February 2011, check; March 2011, check; April, check; May, check; August, check.]
√ Take my grandchildren shelling. [December 2010, check!]
√ Clean the garage. [Did it because I had to make room for my surprise Christmas present!]
√ Make business cards. [I get cards with my new job, so I'm off the hook!]
√ √ Give myself a birthday present (on at least one of the two birthdays) by doing something fun that feels a little extravagant. [Check -- bought myself an iPod! AND an iPHone!]
√√ Go to Sanibel at least twice. [Double Check, December 4 and December 26]
↓√:( Make something to give a few people for Christmas, probably something baked. [Total failure December 2010, but I made some gifts for coworkers in 2011!]
√√√√√ Take a Florida side trip to search for sharks' teeth. [This is a fabulous total MULTI CHECK!! Thanks, Kaybe!]
√ Write more letters - doing well, could do better.
√√√√ Master the first few levels of skill in target shooting. [October, "Pre-Marksman," check; November, "Marksman," check; December, "Marksman First Class," check; February, "Sharpshooter," check!]
+ Make dinner for the kids at least once a week. [October, check; November, check; December ↓ ; January, check; February, went on cruise instead ↓; March, check; April, check; May, NOLA trip ↓; June-July-August, uh uh↓; back on track in September. Half a check!]
Make them at least one freezable dinner a month during the school year. [October, check; November ↓ ; December ↓; January ↓; February ↓ - excuse, freezer is full!; March - August, no excuse!]
Go fly fishing several times, enough to gain some confidence. [Went once. ONCE! :(]
√ Fish at least once with my very competent brother without humiliating myself. [May, check!]
In that same vein, catch (and release) a decent-sized fish!
√ Find a wentletrap. [Multi-check!]
√ Catch up on the tedious routine medical tests I've been putting off. (November, check; January, check - did everything the doctor ordered.)
√ Arrange overnights with my grandkids more often. [February, check; March, check; June, check; September, check.]
Check out the local concerts.
√ Make soup at least once a month. [October, black bean; November, beef barley; December, lentil and beef barley; January, mulligatawney; February, minestrone; March, red beans & rice; April, taco soup; took the summer off, but got back to it in October.]
+ Clean out my closet. Donate what I'm not wearing. [Working on it, took my first car-load in. Half a check.]
√ Take a vacation with my sister [February, check].
√ Grow garlic. [October - planted it, check. August - harvested it. Cool!!]
Make a pair of earrings.
Invite someone who isn't family into my house.
√ Learn/do something I've never done before [tiaras; beaded tableware;].
√ Make a stuffed toy (or two) for the kids to play with when they're here. Better than the pitiful scrap doll I made! [Made a cute little felt doll, not what I had in mind, but cute nonetheless!]
√ Organize the toys and stickers that I have for the little ones so that they can find things more easily and I can clean up more quickly. [Finally put the storage cube together!]
Unpack the boxes in the basement. [Ha!]
Make a map-collage on the wall in the twin guestroom.
Hem at least one pair of curtains. [I hemmed SEVERAL pair for work, but none for home!]
Put up a potting table.
√ Get realistic about finances and either build a better budget or get a job. [part-time work starting in May.]
√ Hang something on the living room walls [poster, check].
√ Finish the larger guest bedroom. [December 2010, settled for good enough.]
√ Try an entirely new kind of food. [Made fresh paneer, a homemade cheese, in December. Fabulous!]
√ Go somewhere I haven't been before.[Cozumel, check.]
√ Attempt to make something arty/crafty. [October - seashell tree, check; January, tiaras and beaded silverware; August, suncatchers and pipe cleaner people; tying flies.]
√ Send my daughter a little care package every month. [October, check; November, check; December, check; January, check; February, check; March, check; April, check; May, visited; June, check; July, check; August, check; September, check; October, check; November, check! December boxes are already packed!]
√ Bake more cookies. [October, oatmeal; November, cinnamon sugar; December ↓; January ↓ - cutting back on carbs :( ; March, chocolate butter cookies; April, oatmeal crisps; September, chocolate butter.]
√ Paint the kitchen. [Check!]
Find my Rome photos and scan them into the computer. [Started to do it and realized that I have forgotten -- again -- how to scan! But the photos are out and ready to go. Gotta ask my son for help again!]
√ Plant something new on the side of the garage. [I planted some grasses and yucca, but I'm not sure any of them will 'take.']
√ Put up a bird feeder. [I put it up, the squirrels took it down!]
√ Take Dr. Cranky to the Ford Estate; do it soon and be patient and gracious about it. (November, check.)
√ Create a new garden plan. [Check. Planted the garden, harvested, and ate.]
√ Improve my diet. I am eating way too much sugar. [Doing much better - blood sugars were back down to normal at my last check-up!]
Increase my exercise.
√ Buy a car. (November, check.)
√ Fantasy item (what the heck): Buy an iPad or (more likely) iPod Touch so that I have more portable internet. [Check! Got an iPod Touch AND an iPhone this year!]
√ Get (or give myself) a pedicure whenever I need one. [December, check; February, check; April, check; June, check; September, check.]
Downsize my possessions, get rid of things I am not using.
√ Save my $5 bills for a vacation. [October, check; begin again in 2011 - still going strong in August -- $480 by the time I started shopping. Incredible.]
√ Create a rough schedule for myself. [My job is doing that for me -- now I just need to figure out how to fit in my hobbies!]
√ Visit my daughter in New Orleans or bring her here for a visit. [May, check; and she will likely be coming up here for a week in December.]
Clean and organize my freezer.
Look into piano lessons.
√ Leave the house at least six days a week. [December 2010, check - job solved that problem!]
√ Find more reasons to laugh. √ √ √
√ Be grateful that I am too old to die young. Be grateful. √ √ √
Add to the list as a bonus item -- SWIM WITH TURTLES!!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Gaggles Of Grackles

From the corner of my eye yesterday, I saw an explosion of water from my backyard bird bath.   When I went to investigate, I found over a dozen grackles crowded into the little pool, splashing and cackling like crazy.   It looked like an avian fraternity party, a bunch of rowdy birds, acting like fools and enjoying it very, very much.   They made me laugh. This morning the bird bath was littered with black feathers and poop, the equivalent, I suppose, of cigarette butts and empty beer cans. The chickadees just shook their heads while I cleaned it up.

(Today the doves have taken over. They are a much quieter crew, but at the moment, three of them are lying in the water, facing the middle and filling the bath.    My bed and breakfast is very popular this summer, which has been hotter than any of us are used to.)

My sunburn is peeling (and itching!) like crazy.   Besides being bad for me, it's just plain yucky!

This weekend we are celebrating my granddaughter's 6th birthday.   Where did the time go?   I spent a bit of time looking over the photos from around the time of her birth, and am amazed all over again that today's lovely bundle of energy and charm could have come from that tiny speck of a person.

5 comments:

sue in mexico mo said...: avian fraternity party - lol

Happy Birthday to your granddaughter!; July 14, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Kaybe said...: Sweet baby preciousness! I have been watching a Momma duck with her 13 babies outside my windows for the last week. I think watching birds is like a a tuning fork to tune us back to the right sounds. Just sayin....; July 14, 2012 at 4:06 PM
Debbie V. said...: I do love it when birds come to our bird bath. It is a converted kitty litter box - kind of funny in a way.
The heat makes it especially rewarding to be able to provide them what they need.
We get those flocks of grackles here too - kind of like locusts.; July 14, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Snowbird said...: OK, so I tried to leave a comment and it's being stubborn. Forgive me if this gets posted twice. I'm having problems reading the darn "prove you're not a robot" thingie. I love your description of the birdie frat party. I am enjoying the hummingbirds and others who are flocking (literally) to my hummingbird feeders.; July 15, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Don said...: The grackle/chickadee story made me laugh. Thanks!!; July 15, 2012 at 9:43 PM