Let's Wine about it. Joint pain?

 I drink wine. 

Not often but maybe once a week or so I'd have a glass. 

Let's talk about the last two times I tried wine.  Both spaced a couple weeks apart. 

First; A popular American wine. Delicious. 

Next morning it felt like every joint hurt, wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, and I had a headache. So then I was thinking what did I do differently yesterday that makes my joints feel like they're on fire today? 

Could it have been those two glasses of wine? I considered it. After all this was alcohol and I usually didn't drink much so was wine the culprit? Could wine have that affect on joints? 

Now, at 65, I know my body is a lot different than it was at 25 but my joints were on fire!

Fast forward to this past weekend. I try wine again. But this time the wine is from Italy. Two glasses. Next day; No joint pain, no headaches. Next night I have two more glasses. (Had to finish the bottle, right?) Following day still no pain, no headache. 

A while ago someone told me they only drink wine from Italy because American wines give them hangovers. I never really gave her comments a second thought, but now I have to wonder what's in American wine? Or is there a magic something in Italian wine? 

Who knows? 

Maybe next weekend I'll pick up an bottle of Italian wine and give this experiment another test. 

Anyone else try this? What's your wine of choice? 

NANO November and another year almost gone

 This year has been a roller coaster and it's almost over. Some of it good, some of it depressing. It's been crazy and depressing but there was joy in there somewhere. 

So what happens next? Fix the life and make 2023 better? 

At 65 and a half, this was not what I envisioned for this decade. Here we are and now its time to keep eyes forward and discover new territories. Before we go forward, let me say F*ck Covid. That was the start of the crazy depressing stuff. 

Okay, now it's time to move forward with eyes to the sky. 

So how to discover options? Evaluations. At 65 what skills do I have? 

    Computer

    Office

    Writing

    Painting (Art)

    Works well with Animals. 

I look at this list and think what would be something I could do with joy?

Definitely, #3 and #5

The rest go from yay to eh. 

So the most joy comes from writing stories. Novels, shorts and everything in between. I just like to spin some yarns and and go into that writing zone. 

What is the writing zone? 

It's a place most creative people know, but I think others get there too. If you have a job or activity you love, you've been there. Did you do one of your favorite things and before you realize it, the time has flown by and you feel like you're lifting your head out of a cloud? A cozy, warm and fuzzy cloud that blocks out that real world? That's your bliss, your joy. 

Do what makes you happy. 

        As one of my favorite tiktok'ers says; Find your Joy!  

I'm going to go look for mine now. 

Is it over, yet?

 No one expected a pandemic to stretch to  years instead of a few months. Seriously? 

But here we are. 

I still see people in stores wearing masks. #Respect. These people are protecting themselves and doing what's best for them. It's what we should all do. Want to wear a mask? Do it. Don't feel weird or intimidated. Don't want one? Don't wear it. Simple. End of conversation. 

Small businesses suffered so much during these last few years. A lot have folded under the expense and pressure of Covid and all it's variants. Be kind to those small businesses who are still out there, trying so hard. 

So here we are. 

Pandemic mostly over (I think, I hope) and trying to go forward. I'm ready. What's next? Where do we go from here?  I always believed when you're stuck or feeling lost it's time to set a new goal. Look for more opportunities and set up a new dream. If we're taking anything into this new world I hope it's kindness and understanding of our fellow humans. 

So, what are your dreams for this post pandemic life? 

Are You Manifesting?

 One of the prime recommendations in all that manifesting stuff is to write it down. See it, believe it and make it happen. 

I think keeping that belief alive in your heart is one of the hardest parts of manifesting. We all have good and bad days, ups and downs and everyday worries. It's part of our nature. It's stuff we're bombarded with every time we turn on the TV. If the last two years have taught us anything it's that we just have to muddle through the mess to come out on the other side. 

"We'll figure this out."  

One of my favorite sayings and I think I must have gotten it from my mother. Her life wasn't easy but she was always positive. She believed money always came when you needed it. That things work out one way or the other. Of course she had all those Mom related worries, but she was overall a positive person. 

So I've got this "Little Book of Dreams" now to record those manifestations every morning. I'm writing it down and making it happen. 

What's your favorite manifesting tool? Do you write it down? Chant it? Pray? Or just send your wishes into the universe?  Let's share it & hopefully inspire others. 

New Year's Resolutions at age 64?

 In our sixties we pretty much have seen it all. Done most of it and decided not to do other things. 

Example? I never wanted to jump from a plane. Never wanted to go scuba diving or skiing.  (Note on scuba diving: I was mentally scarred by the movie Jaws as a teenager. I've never looked at the beach the same since.)

Things I'd still like to do?  Hmmm... nothing is coming to me on this but gonna give it some time to percolate. 

Places I'd like to see? Paris & Ireland.  I'm 100% Irish so I'd like to see the country of my people.  Paris? I've just always been drawn to that city and I don't know why. 

So, how about some resolutions for the new year? 

1. Publish another book

2. Make our business successful. (Covid has all but crushed it, but we love it so we fight onward. - Please, if you know a small business, especially the entertainment biz support them, send your friends in, book a party. They need you even if they look okay. Trust me, every small business has been hurt by covid.) 

3. Adopt out these 3 pups who I'm fostering. Especially Carl who is special needs and extremely playful. (Carl's story is here.)  The other two are a pair of bonded Chihuahuas. They need a home together. 

4. Get organized both in time & space. By time I mean scheduling which days/hours I do what. By space I mean clean up my desks (I have 3) files & other paperwork and make things easier to manage. 

5. Find a passive income. I think everyone needs something else. If you go to Pinterest and search passive income you can come up with a bunch of ideas. I need to take the time to research them all and find something for a side job. 

Any other ideas? What are your New Years Resolutions? 

Social Security Applied! Now what?

 I applied for Social Security about a week ago.  Bit the bullet and filled out that application. Some of the questions I did find confusing and wanted to make sure what I put down was the truth so there were no hold ups.  

They do have little info buttons near each question that let you read a little more so you can give a good answer. That helps. 

You can also check your status by logging back in.  

I just did that and it says it's in like step two for checking my application. It also said it could take 2 to 4 weeks for processing. 

It's only been a week but when someone/thing tells me there's a way to check, I mean, how could I resist logging back in?  

All in all the process was pretty easy, but when you're ready to apply find a quiet space and take your time filling out the application.  

Are you ready to collect?  How did you make that decision? 

Staying Safe & Positive with Another Virus Scare

 Here we go again!

Is it not hard enough being in our 60's without life threatening viruses? Including business threatening viruses. 

Yes, no matter how you view it, this virus has killed more businesses than at any other time in history. (except maybe the great depression) At lease now our government is working to help people. If only everyone would get on board. 

Our business is suffering. We have to have people signing up and coming in or forget it, we're done. 

We're doing the 6 ft thing still which cuts down on the amount of people we can serve and beyond that there are too many who are just afraid to get into a place where people congregate. I've done more wash for aprons and towels then I'd ever want to think about. We bleach everything every night. 

If you walk past someone who reeks of disinfectant, it might be me :) 

So, if this business is suffering I can get a job! Where? At 64? Just look at my resume and you can probably guess my age. I have tons of office experience so the work is no problem but getting someone to trust that? 

We really are fighting for our business. It's a labor of love and I will definitely cry if we go under. I think the only way to beat the virus is through vaccination. I think the only way to protect those who cannot take the vaccination is to get ourselves vaccinated. With mixed messages coming from those in government I fear most good people are really just at a loss of which way is the best way. 

For now we're wearing masks, been vaxxed and boosted, and do our best to keep things clean. 

Stay safe out there.  There is a light at the end of this Covid tunnel and I believe we are almost there. 

What came after the pandemic of 1918?  The ROARING TWENTIES!  Soon it our country will come ROARING back and all will get back to a better normal.