Focus Focus

Count your blessings ~ not your troubles!

A Happy Contribution ~

My daughter is currently doing some research studying healthy aging and asked me if I would like to help her with a presentation she and her research team are giving. She needed pictures of the residents she's working with having fun.

I'm not at liberty to post pictures of the people without their permission.


Bingo!


Bingo cards for sale and a book of records.


Wine hour.


A glass of wine.

I noticed as I walked around, the women were a little reserved and really didn't want their picture taken. I hope they will start to trust me as time goes by and let their hair down around me. The men on the other hand were more open and well... hams around the camera.

Too cute ~

I have never really given much thought into what my life will be like when I get older or what I will be like as I age, until now. With the research my daughter is doing, I realize what an impact how we live now will have on the quality of our lives later. There are so many choices that we make every single moment of a given day that affect us, from what we choose to eat, how long we sleep, how much we laugh, and whether we interpret a stressor as a challenge or a threat. It goes further than that, according to my daughter. The actions we make affect every aspect of our life and our BRAIN health. And it is our brain that makes our body, but without our body our brain can not continue to grow and be nourished. That's why it is essential to exercise both.

It's how the saying goes: "Use it or lose it."

A Sweet Surprise ~

I got a call from my son Rob letting me know Nessa would be receiving a special package. I also had special instructions to "please put it in the refrigerator as soon as it arrives." He also asked me to call her and let her know she got a special delivery. He is so cute... he sometimes needs me or his sister to pull his surprises off and Nessa has right away become suspicious when I call her with news such as this. She has learned we are always sworn to secrecy and our lips are tightly sealed.


The front of the card.


Inside inscription.


Nessa turned three shades of red and gushed, "I can't believe he told you!" We immediately explained to her, he hadn't told us anything. She smiled and didn't care to share.



A sweet surprise. An inside joke... secrets kept.


I can only guess and read between the lines.
;)

I love watching their love for one another beautifully unfold as it grows. It brings a smile to my face.

Eyes Wide Open

My daughter would like to start her career as a Neuropsychologist in San Francisco after she finishes the doctorate program. She plans to go to the city as much as possible to get familiar with and overcome the fear of driving in the city. I have to admit, becoming comfortable with the route would be beneficial to me too; I'll need to drive it to see her. It has been fun to look at the map and pick out what part of San Francisco we want to explore and see what it has to offer. When we go it is with an agenda but nothing set in stone in case we see something or come across something that is off the beaten path of interest. I have to admit, my daughter is getting to know the streets, that is, even if we drive down a bus, taxi, or bike lane... It always turns into a learning experience.

When we walk the streets of San Francisco, I can't help but be a looky loo. There is always so much to see! We took advantage of this past Labor day weekend and took one of our day trips to the city.


I thought this tree stump was interesting. Notice the carvings?


Jimmy Hendrix painted on the side of someones home.


The store's always have the neatest signs. I thought this one was pretty.


Since I have been going to San Francisco, I have noticed this artist has quite a few murals painted throughout the streets. I think they are neat.


This lady obviously is a little bit of an exhibitionist... OR maybe she is sneaking out. ;)


This window covering reminded me of a window to a bedroom Charlie and I shared when we were first married. Sweet memory ~


I love the children's parks I've seen in the city. There is always a mural painted with bright colors full of imagination on the walls. Here at this park, the gates are made of artsy iron.


My daughter's advisor told me about a bead store in San Francisco to check out the next time we were visiting. It is down a beat up side road and if you didn't know it was there, you would miss it. The General Bead store is now one of my favorite places. It's crazy to learn the variance of prices in the city vs. in the valley; it's much cheaper in the city.


My daughter told me about a grocery store she went to on one of her visits without me. It is called Rainbow Coop., an all organic store and Eco friendly store (yes, everything!). A great place to pick up ingredients you wouldn't find else where for that wonderful recipe you've been wanting to try. I loved it! We're planning on making a trip for soup ingredients to welcome Autumn. One thing about San Francisco, everywhere you look, there is something that catches my eye! This table was outside of the grocery store. Notice it's made out of all recycled materials.


This is my baby girl the day after our trip to the city.

A Soft Whisper ~

~ Warm tender feelings
Embracing love ~

The Alternative ~

Joy requires one to be awake,
Adjusting the heart's ambience to bright.
Some prefer the dark, as is their right,
On grounds of agony, and to forsake
Not only bliss, but all that's blessed by light.

~ Nicholas Gordon

Complete Care For Gold Bond ~

Charlie fell asleep in his chair while I got ready for bed. I used the last of the toothpaste and forgot to put the extra tube in the drawer. I went to wake him up, nudging his shoulder, "Charlie, come on... let's go to bed." He said groggily, "Okay, coming." Half an hour later, he came into the room half asleep, I could hear him taking his clothes off and then started to brush his teeth. I heard the shower start and next thing I knew, he was giving me a hug and a kiss goodnight. Charlie said smacking like he was tasting something, "Honey, I brushed my teeth, but I don't think it was tooth paste... I have a funny taste in my mouth." I said sleepily, "Huhhh?..." Out we both went.

In the morning to follow, as I got ready for work, I opened the drawer and noticed I needed to get the extra tube of toothpaste out. It came to my mind what Charlie said before we went to sleep. I looked to see what he brushed his teeth with and started busting up laughing. It was my Gold Bond Anti-Itch cream I use on my hands from the constant washing working in a Cafeteria. I could see why he used it, the color of the tubes are very similar. He didn't get extra whitening but on the other hand, his mouth didn't itch.

;)