OFFICIALLY A MICHIGANDER!

I am officially a Michigander. The moving truck arrived with my things on April 5th. And one of the best things I love about family is helping each other, being there for each other. That afternoon all 4 kids came over and helped, including my friend Cheryl (Rachel's mom). Of course my grand babies came too and made it even more special. 

By 7 I was exhausted and couldn't think straight. We brought take out from a local restaurant to my messy but happy home. We had the first family meal on my 1950 circa farm-style dining table. Though I was anxious to sleep in my new home, thank goodness I waited about 4 days. If I had stayed there I wouldn't have rested at all. Setting up a new residence is fun but exhausting. 

All the boxes are empty and art work is up. A few new purchases including a floor lamp and a guest bed, and my house feels like home. The neighbors are very nice, very welcoming and warm. Michigan people are generally very friendly, but then my kids always say "Mom, everyone is your friend"! Haha, okay, I make friends easily. But in the Midwest people don't have to work so hard to make a living, it's a simpler life and I am very comfortable here. 

One last thing. Mini Me came the next day. She came on a big car transport. I was so happy to see her.  I have been told cars are female, and she is my fun, little buddy. Fun to drive and cute as heck! 

It's Sunday and I have already watered my backyard, with coffee in hand, and now it's time to get ready for church and  see my 2 grand babies!💜😍

Thank you, have a good day and God bless!  Aleta 

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." 

Dr Wayne Dyer - author, philosopher and motivational speaker

DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEAR ON TV!

Don't believe what you hear on TV about dirty jobs!  I'm back, I've moved, I'm almost settled and I discovered one of the dirtiest jobs- but you probably won't see it on television. (I will fill you in on the move in a later post.) 

Attics...attics are filled with dust, spider webs, (who knows what other disgusting creatures), and in my case 74 years of insulation dust!! Putting it off for a few weeks was my solution to the problem. My two sons would have done it, eventually, but I have other jobs that require muscles and I have to pick my chores. 

The morning before my shower was best: shower cap, goggles, cover my mouth and nose so I don't breathe insulation particles, garden gloves, flashlight, and broom. The necessity of covering my face, etc, was important, but the thought of looking like a nutcase and sharing it with all of you made it fun!!

It only took about a half hour and now my suitcases are neatly stored away and it doesn't look so ominous. 

Live love laugh!!! Thank you and God bless!   Aleta

EASE OF MY DEPARTURE!

It's Saturday and I had lunch with Aleida and Curt. We had a great visit but it was primarily a good bye lunch 😪Good byes are tough and so far I haven't  let myself cry, we'll see how long that lasts. Its been nice to get to know Curt, they are suited for each other and I like him a lot. 

For Easter my friends Keith and Barbara Jo are having me over with their family. Then Sunday evening I will be doing last minute things before the movers come Monday morning. I will pack my luggage I'm taking with me today. I packed about 20% of the house and I will let the experts do the balance.  Tuesday they load the truck and are off. 

All the details with the last minute give away, sell, toss, etc, all came together this last week. I was happy to give away things people needed and then I was also blessed with selling some. 

Keeping an ongoing list on a tablet has helped me stay organized. Also not wanting to feel too stressed, I kept ahead by doing things each day for a few hours, always keeping in mind the most important thing to do next!  Many times the last few weeks I have also been taken to lunch or dinner. Probably each day I did some packing, cleaning out, organizing, and seeing friends. This routine seemed to keep me fairly well balanced. I wasn't alone all day working; my tasks were varied, which made it all pleasant and not totally exhausting. 

I had 2 foot massages this past week (1 hour massages) to keep me healthy and relieve stress, and I am so glad I did. I believe it has kept me healthy. 

Monday through Wednesday nights I am staying with Keith and Jo about 5 minutes away. Listen to this, I love the ease of my departure: Thursday morning I put my luggage in my car and then drive myself to Burlingame, to an auto transport company. They have a shuttle take me to SFO airport, 15 minutes away. 

That's it, I'm off, and my car will be on its way in a day or 2! 

A new chapter awaits me, 4 kids and my grand babies, as well. I look forward to what is ahead. Thank you!

Good night and God Bless!!   Aleta 

SNUGGLES AND GIGGLES ARE THE BEST

It finally happened - my house closed today and I will be moving! Next weekend I get to snuggle and giggle with my 2 grand babies. Everything has been getting easier, and I attribute that to God blessing me, friends helping, and being organized. One minor frustration today happened when I called my cable company. The customer service lady was very persistent, not listening to my "No, I won't be taking this service with me, please cancel the service.  She was quite a good robot employee. But I soon became frustrated and had to repeat myself over and over. Finally after many "No's" I said, please let's get onto the next question, because I don't want any more questions about continuing my service, because I am not. Still at the end she said (probably read a script) to go to their website to get promotions. OMG!! But if you know me, I don't get angry or ugly with people because it usually makes it worse, and I don't want any negative repercussions. Canceled it was!!

The TO DO list is shrinking and I love it. There will be moments when I think "Did I remember....? Hopefully that doesn't happen when I'm trying to sleep. It won't be the first time. My neighbor friends Tim & Val are having a little wine and cheese get together tonight, to say good bye to me. The neighbors here are all great and we have always watched out for each other. I will miss the camaraderie. But look forward to new friendships and new adventures. The quote below is perfect because I always say going backwards is unproductive!

Thank you, good night and God Bless!    Aleta

"The secret to many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So you see they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back."

Norman Rockwell - 20th century painter and illustrator 

TWO WEEKS NOTICE!

Two weeks til I depart. It's getting down to the wire, and I have never felt more stressed. The good news is the 4th glitch just unglitched - is that even a word?  I can make up words- it's my blog. All papers have been signed by the seller. The mortgage company is trying to locate a mobile notary- sooner rather than later. Thank God I don't have to fly there to sign, but there are certain rules and regs about signing loans.

People ask me how do you do it all alone? Ten seconds of boldness every day has gotten me through. Some might say conolli help, but I wouldn't want to be crass ;-)  Also I have a team of angels/friends/workers to help. Plumber, gardener, handyman, electrician, painter, caulking expert, contractors, realtor, etc, etc!

Today I thank God for George, he was a recommendation from my gardener friend years ago. I have to mention Miguel first. Miguel has been my gardener for close to 10 years and he is a dear friend. He offered to help me when my precious dog Tashi died almost 2 years ago. He came that afternoon and dug the hole so Julie and I could bury her. That was awful! I will always be grateful for Miguel and all he has done for me. 

Back to my angel George today. He is doing last minute chores. The biggest headache and worry has been how do I get rid of those garage items that you can't just throw away? When I showed him my shelves, he immediately said I can take this away, before I asked him. He knows where the recycling center is if any items are hazardous. Each of us has a responsibility to take care of this earth. Please don't think you can ignore the rules, that it only applies to others. Oops-I digressed. 

The half used garage items you never move to your next house is the last BIG stresser that was hanging over my head. Do you see why I am so blessed?? I am a very grateful person, all day long I say "thank God" for even the tiniest things! It's simply a habit for decades. 

Thank you, good day and God Bless!  Aleta 

"Friends double our joy and divide our grief!"  Anonymous 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I am celebrating my birthday in Tracy with Jeremy and Jenn. Today they are cooking a St Patrick's Day dinner for me. Yumm!! I also got to FT with Jesse, Rachel, and Rosalie - and I'm sure I will later with Parkina! 

This is the first time I have used the Blogger app to write. What a dingbat?! So much easier, oh my goodness! Now no excuse to write. I may even post a pic. 

It's noon here and I am still in my jammies and my new Ugg bathrobe (like a big sweatshirt) - it's very comfy. It's also raining and we are watching The Bucket List. Nice lazy birthday!!

Hugs and kisses! God bless us everyone!

Aleta

THE TO DO LIST

At this point on this journey to buy a house, I am getting closer. The closing date is next Friday, after 2 weeks of total frustration. My bank has been detestable. Probably all banks, or large institutions, are the same. But to get answers and people to get things done has been impossible. I won't go into detail because it's too negative. However, it looks like it will happen, and I get to sign with a notary and then over-night the papers to the title company. Everything is done electronically, I even e-signed some documents and then emailed them right back from their origination by pressing a single button.

It's Friday and I have been ticking off my big TO DO list. I won't go over that because we all have bills to pay, and accounts to close, I am sure you can imagine how my to do list reads. A relocation guy from Mayflower Movers came out on Monday to give me the price to move. They have been around for many years and I am very impressed how professional they are. Chairs are wrapped in plastic, furniture is wrapped in blankets, and all corners where the movers walk are protected. I am packing some stuff but I will let them pack the breakables. I don't have to empty any dressers or my file cabinet, wonderful news. I am very pleased with the price, much less than he originally quoted over the phone. Mayflower always comes out to give an accurate quote, don't ever accept a quote over the phone.

At times I am very tired, but I feel confident this will be a wonderful new adventure. Thank you, good night and God Bless!    Aleta

"If you do not change direction you may end up where you are heading."  Lao Tzu, Ancient Chinese Philosopher, founder of Taoism

HAPPILY, I AM STILL ALIVE!

Once again, please forgive me for my disappearing act! Early February I went to the Midwest to visit my kids and 2 grand babies, Rosalie and Caleb. I stayed and  helped with Caleb, then 4 weeks old, and came back after 2 weeks. Then my son and his family came for a 2 week vacation at mom's 'cuz I was moving - it's been a whirlwind!

Moving, especially out of state, isn't for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of organizing and energy, but it will be worth it. I am excited to be part of my grand children's lives. Moving to a new state, with four seasons, new friends, different climate, is all a new adventure. I am up for it. Gotta stop for now because I have to get some signed documents to UPS. Also my friend Aleida is coming to visit.

I promise to learn to write more often, even if it's only 100-200 words. It's something I can learn to do with practice.

Thank you, good night and God Bless!    Aleta

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."  George Bernard Shaw  - Irish Playwright and Critic

NOSTALGIA - WHO DOESN'T LOVE IT!?!

Nostalgia can bring about a myriad of emotions and thoughts.  Dictionary.com defines nostalgia as a wistful desire to return in thought (or in fact) to a former time in one's life; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time. The catalog Vermont Country Store always evokes a very odd array of reactions for me. It is the epitome of nostalgia.

I'm not sure how I discovered it, but occasionally I order something and have for many years. Having thrown it into my suitcase when I travel, I believe it's better than any magazine you will buy at the airport. Just the name Vermont Country Store conjures up adjectives like nostalgic, amusing, fascinating, perplexing, delightful, intriguing, and even refreshing. The catalog started in 1946 and they guarantee 'Forever, We stand by our products'.

Not being familiar with most of their products hasn't kept me from appreciating them. From the front cover to the last (about 80 pages), I get lost in nostalgia. Occasionally I wonder where do people live that would wear a dress like this? Some of the styles are from the 50's and 60's, like simple cotton dresses or moo moos. Please google that term yourself, but suffice to say, it is a loose fitting, floral cotton print dress.

The products range from clothing, household products, cold cremes our grandmothers might have used, chenille bedspreads, percolators, and so many more. However, I must give an honorable mention to a few others: Vermont maple syrup, they even sell new typewriters (again google it, to those of you that are too young), a soft-bonnet hair dryer (?) for $69, and Ovaltine! That was/is a chocolate with less sugar in it and my mother did not allow us to eat a lot of sugary foods. Our chocolate was always Ovaltine, hot or cold. They have many foods from pancake mix, to hard candies, to jams and all sorts of sweets. My favorite products are the all-natural tonics and skin care that you would think came out of the 1890's. Loving natural home remedies and homeopathic health remedies myself, this section is most fun to read through.

The very best part of this wonderful catalog for me is the art work. It's like walking into an antique store, it takes me away. Most of the old art work is before my time. But I love antiques, the simplicity and beauty. It's a respite from a very busy life, into an era where life was simpler. If you had a cough, you went to the corner drug store and bought Honey and Anise syrup. Does drug store sound foreign to some of you? You must be 30 something. I grew up with them.

My suggestion is that you request their catalog, and sit in your comfy pajamas, with a cup of relaxing tea or maybe hot Ovaltine, and let yourself go away. Look into a life 70 years ago.  Simply relax and smile and breathe, and wonder, 'what was life like back then?' I strongly suggest you order something wonderful you can't resist, something you will love using. And share your experience with your friends. Because after all, that is what I am doing, sharing something wonderful with you. I hope you truly enjoy it! By the way, they will not send you a lot of junk. Perhaps a catalog 3-4 times a year.

Thank you, this post was particularly fun for me. Good night and God Bless!!    Aleta

ps  Looking for a quote for this post was quite a task, most of them being very negative. I do like these 2, and found the later hilarious.

"Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days."  Doug Larson, columnist and editor.

"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be." Peter De Vries, American editor and novelist, known for his satire!

GOTTA FESS UP!

It's nothing earth shattering and it wasn't an untruth I told. A couple of months ago I realized it was time to move. Some of you may have guessed it from all my gushing about my first grand child, Rosalie. We now have 2 babies in the family, and I can't bear to be away from them. Rosalie is 1 1/2 years old, Caleb was just born January 9th, and I am visiting everyone in early February! They are first cousins and live within close proximity. It was not an easy decision to make because I am leaving a son and daughter-in-law behind. They live about 2 hours away from me and don't have any children right now. But there are many reasons, not only my grand babies, and I will not go into all of them in my post. Whether I live in California or Michigan, I will always visit my children.

Michigan offers many new experiences I look forward to. A vintage style house I get to choose and make my own, a big church with a singles group for 50 and over, hopefully many dancing opportunities, and very important is the lower cost of living. I will be in the antique capital of the United States, my opinion, of course. Loving antiques and shabby chic, I will have great fun junking with my friend Cheryl, Rachel's mom. We often do just that when I have visited in the past. And yes, they have weather with a capital 'W' and four distinct seasons. Many different photography opportunities, which is another hobby I love. People say I will acclimate to the weather, hopefully. Noticing the teen numbers this last week, I can only imagine myself looking like an abominable snowman, with 10 layers, and just my eyes peaking through. Haha, hopefully it won't be that bad. But perhaps taking 10 minutes to peel off the layers when I arrive some place, and then 10 minutes to put them all back on, upon departure. Yikes, I'm not kidding! But change is always welcome. I thrive on it, always loving to grow and change - to me makes life more exhilarating.

Why did it take 3 months to blog about my move? Until recently it felt over-whelming with all the decisions I had to make. Also I was writing less frequently and didn't like that. An hour ago I sat down to pay a bill online, I clicked Blogger and sat there thinking. A few minutes later it came to me - I am going to tell the world about my move. Now I have much more to share.

Thank you, good night and God Bless!   Aleta

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."  Mahatma Ghandi

WAIT, I TAKE THAT BACK!

Most of us don't want to exercise. Wait, I take that back - I do! Okay, yes, I'm weird and proud of it, which makes me even more weird. We have to like who we are, and that is something I always strive for. Exercise wakes up my body and allows me to know I am alive and everything is working. We all know with age, our parts wear out. I am not going to bore you or make you feel guilty about not exercising.  I am suggesting we start small - stretching.

Stretching is a must. Remember waking up in the morning, opening up your chest and carefully stretching both arms out? When you think about it, it is really a beautiful movement, almost like a ballet stance. Whether you like to dance, don't like to dance, or think you should never dance because you are not coordinated, dancing is a great way to get exercise. Being a dancer myself, I don't need a reason to dance. When music moves me, my body responds.

If you are always on the go or a sedentary personality, stretching is something we can all do every day taking only minutes. The older we get the stiffer and less flexible our joints become. That's where stretching will keep them healthier. Find stretches that help the low back, knees, arms, legs and even feet. Always start slowly and never bounce when you stretch. Stretching the feet might sound foreign to some. Standing on the edge of stairs, and lifting up (counting to a minimum of 30) does a couple things: it's good to strengthen calves and makes the muscles in the feet stronger. Your calves will burn toward the end, and you will need to walk it off. Seniors often fall because of weak musculature in the feet.

One thing I found to help with stretches is a book on Yoga, it's a favorite. Unfortunately, for years I stayed away from yoga, thinking I had to get into Buddhism and chant om! Don't make the same mistake I did. Books and libraries excite me and take me away. But you can also go to the web. By the way, this book has great photos of poses, simple explanations, and is very easy to read. "Discover Yoga" Top That Publishing, 2005. You can get all the same exercises if you research it on the web. Find some stretches that appeal to you and make a choice to be more physically fit!

Thank you, good night and God Bless!    Aleta

"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing."  Redd Foxx - African-American comedian and actor

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!

"Please welcome my newest grand baby, Caleb Joseph. He was born Saturday, January 9th weighing 7lbs 7ounces, 20" long. Both mommy and baby are healthy!😍🙏🏻 They took Caleb home yesterday and (I believe) are spending every moment talking with and staring at their little bundle of joy, their little miracle😍 Even shedding tears of joy, I am sure! 
Saturday was exhausting for Caleb's nonna! Lots of sleep deprivation. From the moment I woke up at 7am, reading texts and updates on labor, etc, I was impatiently waiting for the next update. Then jumping at every text announcement and scrambling to open it - it was like an I Love Lucy segment!😂 Thank you for all your prayers! I get to see both families for 2 weeks in early February. Now I have 2 precious grand babies😍 Thank you God! My heart is so full and I am so blessed"😘

The above is a post from my Facebook account, and since it was aptly said, I couldn't resist a little copy and paste. Being brand new parents, Tina and Ian are holding Caleb, and staring at him, and marveling at their little miracle. After trying for 4 years they were very disheartened. Tina also had a miscarriage in the spring of 2015.

Yesterday texting back and forth with my son, I had an opportunity to impart some wisdom about living day to day, and enjoying every moment. Every new parent hears "They grow up very fast, enjoy every minute". Some people have said to me they are tired of hearing that. But the truth of the matter is, life IS very short, and the older we get, the faster it seems to fly by. Here is the essence of what I said: Thirty five is not over the hill, and it's good that you feel 25. Take good care of your health (exercise and healthy eating), think positively, control anger, and say you're sorry quickly. Even when it isn't your fault. Enjoy your family every moment. You should not let the world determine what you do, or how you live. Adults contend with peer pressure just like school children. And we all have regrets, but the more we go with how our heart feels, the less regrets we will have. People will always have a different opinion, we have to deal with opposition all of our lives. Don't wait until you are 50 or 60 years old (or older) to learn these valuable lessons.

Some of my earlier posts talk a lot about how I have changed. My self talk drove me nuts, and one day I saw a book titled "How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty". Imagine that, remembering clearly the one book, of hundreds I have read over the years, that made such a huge difference to my personal growth. In my early 30's at the time, I knew it was important for me to change. Thank you for allowing me into your very busy lives, one of my greatest wishes is to make a difference in this world.

Thank you, good night and God Bless!   Aleta

"My kids give me the balance to live right."  Celine Dion - Singer, composer and actress

A CHANGE OF HEART!

Generally we go to the movies to be entertained. But some of us also like to learn. Recently I saw the new movie Joy, with Jennifer Lawrence (young actress from The Hunger Games). Don't worry, I will not divulge anything about how the movie ends. It's based on a true story about a single mom.

Jennifer Lawrence is an excellent actress and portrays Joy beautifully. After seeing it and talking with a few friends about my initial reaction, I've had a change of heart. First of all, I absolutely loved it and would like to include it in my library. After some consideration though, I realize it's not going to appeal to everyone. The critics did not give it a good rating and now I understand why. My idea of entertainment is different than the general public's. Sometimes I like to see a movie that shows how strong the human spirit can be, life lessons, and kindness. Silly comedy and drama definitely is good too.

My appeal is Joy, the story, how it developed, and the character Lawrence played. Her strength and tenacity and how she accepted her responsibilities. She met with a lot of adversity, would stop and think things through, and she had a great attitude. She has a big imagination and she did not let the world dictate how she lived. The end is kind of a surprise. I loved it and hope you do, too. High expectations can spoil experiences sometimes. Don't let me raise or lower yours.

Thank you, good night and God Bless you!   Aleta

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. But attitude determines how well you do it!"   Lou Holtz - Former American football player, exceptional coach, and author.