by Judy Handley | Jan 3, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 03: Taking Care of Business
Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Weather: Overcast with Some Rain: High 51, Low 46 degrees F
Sunrise and Sunset: 7:10 am & 4:26 pm
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Woohoo! Gained another minute of daylight this evening. But it was overcast and rainy all day, so the extra minute was just as dreary as the rest of the day. Heather came over early this morning to help get Andrew’s dock walkway put back in place after our huge high tide before Christmas. When it happened, Andrew contracted to have someone come to work on the dock, but day by day it has been getting worse. Last night Heather offered to come try and get the walkway out to the dock back in alignment. I just can’t standby and watch things self-destruct when that can be prevented. Thank you, Heather. After Heather left, I took a long walk in the neighborhood with Shadow. I spent the remainder of the day inside on my computer and my phone. I worked on my 2023 calendar, on my phone and on a hard copy calendar, putting in major activities that I know about at this point. I dealt with some of my sister’s health issues and arranged for her doctor to come to see her at the assisted living facility tomorrow. I met via phone with Claudia Needham. I have agreed to be co-leader of the Newcomers Public Policy group with Claudia, and we needed to divide duties. One of my jobs will be contacting members ahead of each meeting to send them meeting details and reading resources. Since we are meeting next week for my presentation on food and climate change, I then had to get the email ready to send out. Because so many people are sick, with either Covid or the flu or colds, we decided that we will meet via zoom and that means I now have to put much of my presentation into a PowerPoint. That will be tomorrow’s job.
It feels good to work on getting organized for the coming year. So, in that respect, today was a good day. I also spent time watching what is happening in the US House of Representatives. It was not a good for Republicans in the House. I could be happy about that, but I am not. The dysfunctionality of the Republicans in the House means that the business of the House is not being done. And if ever we needed a functional government, it is now. It doesn’t bode well for the next two years.
by Judy Handley | Jan 2, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 02: Wonderful Dinner with the Goldstones
Date: Monday, January 2, 2023
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Cooler: High 47, Low 33 degrees F
Sunrise and Sunset: 7:10 am & 4:25 pm
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
I’ve been watching the sunrise and sunset times carefully since winter solstice, and finally for the past three days, we have gained one minute of daylight each day with the sunset moving forward. I love each added minute of daylight.
This morning I went for another walk with friend Olga Mitchell. We tried a new trail this morning that is close to home. It was a trail through the woods, but it was nice and wide and no one else was walking. I let Shadow off his leash, and he enjoyed the freedom of romping in the woods. But he doesn’t stray far. Even when off leash, he basically stays right beside me. I took Olga home, came home to have lunch, and then in the early afternoon, I took Sam and Jed with me to Planet Fitness to establish Sam’s membership. Jed had to be along to sign the release since Sam is still a minor. This was Sam’s Christmas present from me, and I do hope he enjoys it.
Then tonight the Goldstones came over for a final holiday dinner. It was so wonderful to be with them and hear all about their second Christmas in Maine. We had roasted chicken and root veggies with salad and Jonah made individual molten chocolate lava cakes for desserts. The dessert was decadent and delicious, but now it is time for me to end the holiday dessert delights. I will get back to having only a couple of squares of dark chocolate for dessert while looking forward to the Christmas holiday season next year. But my holiday fun is not over yet. I still have my Christmas tree lights to enjoy for four more days until the Twelfth Day of Christmas.
by Judy Handley | Jan 1, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 01: Welcome 2023
Date: Sunday, January 1, 2023
Weather: Partly Sunny and Warm: High 55, Low 35 degrees F
Sunrise and Sunset: 7:10 am & 4:24 pm
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Happy New Year to each of you. I sent last night’s log before I went out for the evening, so I’ll start by writing about last night. Before I left home, I got a message from Jo with a photo of the Justin, Ziggy, and Coco playing Backgammon and having a chilled New Year’s Eve . . . a perfect way to bring in the New Year as a family.
Heather and family were still in Boothbay, Maine, celebrating the new year with Jed’s mother and his brother Toby and Stephanie. I picked up my friend Olga Mitchell and took her with me as a guest to a very small gathering of Newcomers Singles hosted by Lynda Onthank. Some who had planned to come backed out at the last minute as they had cold symptoms. We missed them but appreciated them staying at home and not spreading cold or flu germs. Lynda is a wonderful hostess and had more food than we could eat. But it was delicious so none of us entered the New Year hungry. At 10:45 pm, Olga and I headed to her house to join her daughter Susan, who lives with her, to greet 2023. Susan opened the bubbly I brought, Syltbar procecco,
and we toasted 2023 as we watched the celebrations on TV. I didn’t get home until 1:30 am, took Shadow out to greet the new year, and then headed to bed to read. Lights didn’t go out until 2:30 am. So, a 10:30 am walk with Shadow and Olga came early. We had a lovely New Years Day walk along the Quasnet River and then I spent the remainder of my day just living the good life. Here’s wishing each of you health and happiness in 2023.
by Judy Handley | Dec 31, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 365: Happy New Year’s Eve
Date: Saturday, December 31, 2022
Weather: Overcast and Rainy: High 56, Low 46 degrees F
Sunrise and Sunset: 7:10 am & 4:23 pm
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Each year on New Year’s Eve when I type Day 365 in my log, it always shocks me that already another year has gone by. They do seem to go more quickly the older I get. I am headed to a small gathering of friends from the Newcomers Singles group tonight and I am taking my 90 year-young friend, Ole will only stay a couple of hours and then head back to her house to bring in the New Year with her daughter. Olga lives very close, so that makes for a short ride home at mid-night. I hope you have or had a wonderful New Year’s Eve and are looking forward to a healthy and happy 2023!
by Judy Handley | Dec 30, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 364: Holiday Luncheon with Friends
Date: Friday, December 30, 2022
Weather: Sunny: High 53, Low 44 degrees F
Sunrise and Sunset: 7:10 am & 4:22 pm
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Today was divided between going to Heather and Jed’s to feed the cats and to continue my clean-up of Sam’s room (an early birthday present), having a wonderful holiday luncheon ‘out’ with my dining-in group good friends,
and returning home to do a little more research for my upcoming presentation to my Newcomers pubic policy group. And, as with every day, I made time to walk and play ball with Shadow. Each day this week, Shadow and I have had a different water bird experience down by the dock. This afternoon, it was watching our resident Great Blue Heron land on the marshy spit of land across from the dock and stand watch over the ducks and geese in the water.
And all of this was done without wearing a winter coat. It was sunny and in the 50’s today. While I was enjoying the warm weather here, I ‘borrowed’ a photo Justin posted this afternoon from warm and wonderful Puerto Rico.
He was at the Plaza Publica in Mayaguez enjoying the plaza all lit up for the holidays.
