| I
Have Always Adapted Well to Change.
Thursday, June 17, 2021 129 comments
I attended 3 high schools back
when "leaving one's friends" meant
REALLY LEAVING them unless we wrote letters. In 2021 we have so
many alternatives to stay connected to the friends we have made
here.
Now
I can add one more event to my "Anniversary Dates" to
forget
Monday, June 07, 2021 80 comments
First we had to find out about SparkPeople shutting
down through a sharp eyed EUROPEAN Sparker who saw a buried notice in a resource
thread. Then there was
no response or communication from staff to all those commenting and asking
questions...
Avoiding Our Wedding Anniversary
Friday, June 04, 2021 168 comments
It is not about the marriage. That’s been a generally good 54 years
to remember. It’s about the DATE itself. June 3rd. It began on our wedding
day in 1967. I was standing in the back of the church, the organ was playing “Here
Comes the...
Multitasking
for Safety – Plus Remembrance and Reflection
Tuesday, June 01, 2021 83 comments
Kayaking provides a good workout along
with the stress reducing aspect of nature. For the safety of others we always
pick up debris that would pose a
hazard to boaters or jet skiers.
Taps
Across America – The National Moment of Remembrance - Monday 5/31/21
3PM
Sunday, May 30, 2021 74 comments
“ On Memorial Day, Americans
remember those who have died in military service to the United States.
The National
Moment of Remembrance is an annual
event that asks all citizens, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time,
to pause for a duration o... G-R-A-D-U-A-L
spells “ME”
Friday, May 28, 2021 115 comments
I admire those who can go “cold turkey” – no
sugar, no caffeine, no TV etc. While I want t improve in all areas, I just
was never very good
at all or nothing. I do not do well if I feel deprived. ..
Looking
for that Old Spark – “I will not drink another calorie”
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 95 comments
I wrote that on October 9, 2012 and was
reminded of it when suddenly that 8 year old blog got a new comment. Wow,
a look at my old self at age 65. Things
change. I’m different in many ways. Spark is different too. The
Empty Nest – Connecting Human Experience with the Animal Kingdom
Friday, May 21, 2021 77 comments
“ to grasp your one necessity and not let it go” (link
at end) So many great comments and insights on my last blog I remember the
bittersweet
feeling when our 3rd child left for college All the bedrooms were empty with
just some memento...
Surprise tweaks to avoid snacking and look better instantly plus the dark side
of mother nature
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 117 comments
I know that sounds like a magazine cover
story similar to “Get a Bikini
Body in 6 Weeks” Still I did suddenly realize how 2 changes made quite
a difference 1 Sleep elsewhere. No, I’m not leaving my husband of 54
years. He came with me ... “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” – A
Symbol of Strength and Resilience
Friday, May 14, 2021 91 comments
A comment on my blog a while ago referenced
this book. It was published in 1943. I never read it as a child but Dad
did take me to see the movie. ...
Read more One
Fine Day! – Oh What a Feeling!
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 91 comments
Last week I posted a status – Bank, Post Office, Groceries, Volunteer
Work, Walking and Canoeing through Nature. Thinking back, I want to expand
on that and why exactly it was so great. The bank, post office, groceries – errands
that every... Read more Life in the Middle of the Road
Friday, May 07, 2021 93 comments
We are all an “Experiment of One” a
Sparker phrase that has defined my 12 years here. Losing weight is one thing,
a very important thing and while
there are similarities, each of us faces different obstacles, roadblocks and
potholes on our journ... Read more
Remember When Exercise was FUN?
Tuesday, May 04, 2021 102 comments
Recently there has been a lot of nostalgia
about our childhood foods particularly how companies have been using those
memories to sell us those same “comfort
foods” during the pandemic. What I love most about Spark connections
is realizing ... Read more How
Nostalgia Hooks Us to Buy Junk Food (Sharing a great blog)
Saturday, May 01, 2021 75 comments
A great read this morning by Sparker Watermellen
that not only triggered my memories but sent me to my photo albums for
documentation ... Read more “The Old and the Clueless?” Thank
you all for your support
Friday, April 30, 2021 77 comments
As a young mother, I would watch “The Young and the Restless.” It
was a nice respite after lunch and a morning with Big Bird and Mr. Rogers.
Now at age 73 maybe “The Old and the Clueless” is more my speed?
Recently I was jarred out of... Read more A
lesson in “Functional Fitness” - At least I didn’t
burn the house down.
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 95 comments
Functional fitness refers to 4 pillars
of good heath – strength, endurance,
balance and flexibility. We want to be fit enough to live the life and do the
things that are important to us. I admit that does change with age. However,
you... Read more
What
is a WeekEND? (Emphasis intended)
Friday, April 23, 2021 91 comments
Downton Abbey fans will recognize this as one
of the best one-liners of the Dowager Countess Lady Violet played by Maggie Smith.
Today I realize that I
finally have something in common with the British upper class of 100 years
ago. ... Read more
The “Swedish Bikini Team” and ME – a
Matter of Perspective
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 85 comments
A beer commercial in the early 90s featured
a visual reference to this fictitious “team.” They
weren’t Swedish or a team but they were tall and blonde and buxom and
there were a whole bunch of them in bikinis. It was so over the top, that it
... Read more
Fitting in with Mother Nature or NOT
Friday, April 16, 2021 97 comments
58 years ago a power dam was built across
the Roanoke River in Virginia and created a lake 40 miles long with 500 miles
of shoreline. It provides electricity
as far west as Ohio. Some of the area was farmland and a lot of it was forested.
... Read more
Take
the Time – I sent a thank you card today, 53 years late
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 104 comments
Several events and dates converged this
weekend to remind me of the importance of the advice in the picture below.
That image was part of a weeken... Read
more
Pandemic
Change – Pardon the Pun
Friday, April 09, 2021 89 comments
Yes, that’s a baggie full of quarters. $5.00 to be exact. What does
it have to do with the pandemic? It represents just one small “change” in
our da... Read more
April 6, 1917 A Day of Fear and Hope
Tuesday, April 06, 2021 79 comments
The United States entered World War I. Americans
were going “over there” to
fight an enemy on behalf of people they had not even met It was Good Friday
and 2 families were preparing for Easter with hope. TWO baby boys were born
that day ... Read more
So
Grateful for my “Imaginary Friends”
Friday, April 02, 2021 94 comments
As Sparkers we know each other online, but
these relationships are very real especially for those veterans here. The “imaginary” designation
is my DH’s loving reference when he sees me on the site. He understands
how important it is for me to ... Read more
“Rest and Come Back Stronger” – Taking
my own advice
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 84 comments
I have given that advice to many people
both online and in real life Rest, Recharge, Renew, Refresh – Great “R” words all I’ve
written before... Read more
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Meeting
Resistance & Overcoming Obstacles – in your
Spark Life and Beyond
Friday, March 26, 2021 93 comments
A wise person once told me that there are 2 ways people make themselves feel
good By doing positive things for themselves and others By tearing other people
down and bashing them for any number of reasons. Many Sparkers have shared their
s... Read more
“The Right Stuff” – Doing
it, Wearing it, Having it
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 87 comments
You may remember the movie about the first US astronauts and the obstacles
and tragedies they experienced on their journey to their goal. Most of us will
never
face anything quite as monumental but we all need to find our own “right
stuff” to r... Read more
Following
the Yellow Brick Road – Spark Style
Friday, March 19, 2021 103 comments
It may not be made of yellow bricks and it doesn’t end at the Land of
Oz, but it is a path well worth following. There are general directions..
“It’s
So Easy Not to Try”
Tuesday, March 16, 2021 77 comments
" Let the world go drifting by." That was the song in my head when
I opened my eyes yesterday. (link at end) The world looked gloomy with so much
cloud-cover obscuring the sun. Why not just stay in bed and watch the rest
of the movie that... Read more
Can You Find the Island of Malta on this Map?
Friday, March 12, 2021 81 comments
I found this hand traced map of the Mediterranean in my Dad’s WWII diary.
Malta is that little dot to the left of the “M” in “Mediterranean
Sea” d... Read more
“It’s happening again” said
the Stealth Sparker (aka my DH)
Tuesday, March 09, 2021 94 comments
After 57 years of the shared history (54 married), I didn’t even have to
ask what it was. He was remembering “Mommy, it happened again! “ That
was the screech from the nursery that sent me running to my toddler’s
room 45 years ago. I ... Read more
Has one person or event completely changed the direction of your life?
Friday, March 05, 2021 100 comments
My recent blogs about the Donna Reed Era have triggered one last memory Where
would I be if this hadn’t happened? I was almost 16 on June 2, 196...
Read more
My First College Demonstration in the Donna Reed Era
Tuesday, March 02, 2021 87 comments
My last blog triggered a memory of my first
youthful “rebellion” I
was a freshman in 1964 at Queens College of the City University of New
York, the first of my family to attend college. Tuition was free except
for a $24
per semester fee
Mom,
you’re not exactly Donna Reed
Friday, February 26, 2021 104 comments
That observation was my teenage son reacting
to my news that I had agreed to host a German exchange student. Her host family
had backed out at the last
minute. ... Read more
No Pain, No Gain? Maybe if you are a SQUIRREL
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 75 comments
Originally that “no pain” mantra
meant you needed to experience discomfort to make progress. Sadly, many
injuries were incurred by those taking
it literally. Unless, it seems, you are a squirrel. ... Read more
Which Way to Warsaw?
Friday, February 19, 2021 76 comments
This is a footbridge over a river between
Poland and Slovakia. We took our grandchildren (and their parents) there in
2014 to connect with their roots
and meet their cousins. ... Read more
Can You Make That Cylinder Thing? You look so young
Tuesday, February 16, 2021 95 comments
Gotta love my engineer, especially when
he’s not wearing his glasses
Cylinder thing? Oh, you mean 50 years ago when I wore my hair in a “French
Twist” Like in 1969 when I was 8 months pregnant in this “official” army
photo? I was doing... Read more
I can be in TWO Places at Once, even THREE
Friday, February 12, 2021 85 comments
Exactly one year ago Joe & I were
at Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Even though
I am stuck at home, this week have just completed
a virtual walk around that island My virtual trek included the iconic image
on th... Read more
Daddy, What are they Talking About?
Tuesday, February 09, 2021 87 comments
I don’t actually remember asking
that question. I was only 3 years old, but my Dad told me about it years
later. It seems I never wanted to go to visit
our relatives in PA. The problem was that when we traveled on weekends
and for vacatio... Read more
Was Grandpa a Smuggler?
Friday, February 05, 2021 80 comments
We will never know for sure, but he was
certainly living in the midst of it all. Our Lithuanian Language and Culture
course has come to an end. We learned
a lot about that little country determined to preserve their language and culture
throug... Read more
A Little Village not on Any Tourist Path, Except MINE
Tuesday, February 02, 2021 93 comments
Many of us are pondering where we might
go once it’s safe to travel
again This little village in a Lithuanian forest area is our destination.
The village Nova has only 65 inhabitants now ... Read more
Why is my scale at the entrance to my kitchen?
Friday, January 29, 2021 102 comments
I know it’s not a common location for this item. It’s
the first thing I see when I enter in the morning still in my PJs. I mentioned
this in
m... Read more
Is
this a FLUCTUATION? No, it’s a TREND!
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 110 comments
I returned to Spark in September after
admitting that being a Covid hermit was sending my weight in the wrong
direction. It was only 4 pounds but I don’t
believe in waiting for double digits. The pounds disappeared with a kick
in the rear from ... Read more
Daddy, how old is a Geezer?
Friday, January 22, 2021 102 comments
That was the question I asked my father
when he complained about the slow driver he was following on the highway. The
man stopped suddenly and Dad had
to slam on his brakes to avoid a collision. Of course, I understand that Dad
would have bee... Read more
Missing Out on Experiences for Fear of Ridicule?
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 84 comments
“ Dance like no one is watching?” If
they are watching, you might look like this. So what! I have a memorable
photo of my rear end while clutchin...
Read more
Mommy, I hope God is nicer than him
Friday, January 15, 2021 91 comments
That was the comment of my 4 year old son
when he was lying on the couch sick one Sunday morning. I hadn’t
noticed that his cartoon program had ended and he was watching a local
preacher known
for his fire and brimstone delivery.
Forty-o... Read more
Lessons
from “My 600 Pound Life” – A cautionary tale
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 94 comments
A few years ago I stumbled upon the TV
show “My 600 Pound Life.” I
watched one episode, fast forwarding through some of the parts that warned
of disturbing images, but cheered for the young woman who achieved success
and a new chance at life. ... Read more
“Later Never Comes” – I
bet there is a meme for that
Friday, January 08, 2021 81 comments
That’s what DD Jeannie (AKA Hayburner1969) told me at age 7 when she
asked me to color with her. I was busy with her little sister, baby brother
and some of my coursework and told her I would color with her “later.” She
was absolutely rig... Read more
I
Faced and Overcame My Fear Yesterday. It’s also the #1 fear of others
Tuesday, January 05, 2021 107 comments
I once thought it was a joke since I
first heard that statistic in a Seinfeld monologue. In case the print is too
small to read. “According to most...
Read more
It
is New Year’s Eve 1942 – Things are not going well
Friday, January 01, 2021 98 comments
This is the first time Times Square has
been empty on New Year's Eve since celebrations began in 1907. The lights are
out. The ball did not drop. There
is a wartime blackout. ... Read more
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