Have a Plan

brown tri-color beech

 My goal has been for quite some time to find a bit of joy in every day.  Often that joy seems in short (and elusive) supply.  I won't give up, I'll keep trying.

In the meantime, life goes on. Last week was a bit of a calmer week which often feels like less pressure-scheduled things to keep on top of.  But also leaves us at a bit of loose ends which isn't good for us.  I try to find something to get us out of the house every day, but sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Anyway, Thursday has become the"lunch" day.  Our friend retired so the plan is for us two women to go to lunch every other week and the four of us (both couples) to go the in-between weeks.  Last Thursday the two of us lady friends had lunch and chatted and then chatted a bit more while we went to a couple nearby stores and had - at least I did - a marvelous time.  We left at 12:30 and I returned about 4:40. Perfect afternoon and good for my soul.  

I also had an annual eye exam.  Been trying to find another eye dr.  This one was ok, I guess, but I doubt I'll go back to him.  Was recommended another dr. that I tried to get The Husband in to see - and he will, but not until February! Sheesh!  But I really do think it's time for someone fresh.  My eye exam yielded a prescription for some glasses - the top mostly astigmatism correction and the bottom for readers.  I have a pair that I had made after my cataract surgery 6 years ago that work ok.  I don't wear them all the time but they are really nice to have when I'm doing things around the house when I need something for near and far but am tired of fussing with the readers.  I've long known that my reading rx is different for each of my eyes, which isn't optimal for my sewing, etc.  Anyway, I thought about getting the new glasses (the dr. really pushed them on me - I don't usually respond well to pressure/pushing) but decided it wasn't necessary to spend the money.  But....we were going to Costco the next day and I wondered how much a pair would cost me if I got them there.  I had about decided to just spring for the glasses when the woman asked me if they were billing insurance.  Was sure we had no coverage for glasses but wow- we do.  And they paid for about 4/5ths of the cost.  Since it was so cheap we went ahead and ordered them.  I don't love wearing glasses, but I love the on and off of the readers even less.  I'm anxious to see if the new prescription is an improvement.

Maple leaves turning fall color

Stepped outside and super quick snapped a couple pictures of a few of our backyard trees.  Our tri-color beech had a lovely year, it never looked crispy and burned the way it usually does in the summer, just stayed mostly green and fairly decent looking.  The crimson king maples have been lovely the whole year.  But yesterday morning I noticed the change in the leaf colors on both varieties.  Happened virtually overnight.  Pretty soon our grass will be carpeted with leaves and we will be so grateful to have our mowing friend come and remove them for us.  

I got a bit over-exuberant with some exercises last week.  At least I think that's what happened.  I have had the worst back pain.  Have a new respect for the pain The Husband goes through when he has an episode with his degenerative disc.  This is just muscle and I think it's improving but I want it healed immediately and life doesn't work like that.  I'm trying to avoid tylenol and ibuprofen today.  It's a bit miserable.

I'm grateful today to have another chance to be gentle with others.  Also to go and get the permanent crown on my tooth to replace the one that fell apart.  Grateful to think I might be able to talk The Husband into pizza (that I won't have to fix) for dinner and so grateful to know that we will have enough funds to cover not only all the insurance policies that are due this time of year but also the high property taxes.  I hope they don't tax us out of our home.  Grateful for sunshine and comfortable temperatures.  And grateful for hope.  I need it.