Long Walks and Gas

Actually it is two subjects and not what you think. I was at the park this morning and this woman said, "you walk so far..."?! I am like it is less than 1/2 mile to the park, when we get there we goof off and might even just sit and watch nature (more so since I work PMs). It is odd to think that people think it is a big deal to walk 1/2-1 mile for nothing.....I don't get it. When Sam and I were both younger we might walk 4-6 miles at a time. Americans are truly lazy and getting lazier all the time.

The second part does have a connection to the first and that is gasoline. When I had the Sport Trac I would need 18-22 gallons of gas 2x week and I thought nothing of it. Then I got the Prius and I would get gas one every 7-10 days and just less than 10 gallons. Now I work just a bit over 2 miles from home and go to a gym that is either 2-3 miles from my house and a few other fun trips. Now I get gas every 3 weeks, still just 9-10 gallons. Helix High kids go to the gym that is a half mile walk from my house but when school is out I like to go there. If it were a Traders instead of Vons close to my house then I would never drive to the grocery store, just walk with my little push cart.....

Now some days my knees scream but overall I think it is good for them to exercise and as soon as my insurance kicks back in I am getting new films and running off to the Ortho to see if we can do something less than a total replacement. But every day that I can get up and walk and take care of my own life, it is a good day.

Time for lunch!

outside looking in....

I love to watch people. It makes me a more observant person overall and I am trying to learn to be more open and accepting. When "people watching" it is important to remember you are seeing something that could represent that person's life, their fears, their dreams.
I am engaged at the park these mornings as I watch this mexican gentleman come with his children. They come early for school, parking their van in the lot at the bottom of the park. The 3 boys fall out of the van immediately. Dad gets out slower. The kids are running up the hill speaking in English to each other and Spanish to their dad. They always go into the ladies side of the restrooms with their toothbrushes and paste in hand. There is laughter and tapping of the plastic brushes against the sink., they exit the bathroom spitting the foamy residue on the sidewalk to see what "designs" they come up with!
Who is this dad? These kids are happy, obviously they take care of their teeth...... why do they come to the park before school for this? Are they homeless? Are they illegal? Does the mother work nights and dad is just getting them out so she can sleep?
In the hospital I see people who should have had everything in life, yet a tip into the bottle or the drug store is devastating to them. They lose everything, family, home, health.
Seeing clips of peoples lives tells you little, we can never understand what it is like to live that person's life. We can never know what devils chase them, we can never know why they are where they are at that moment we see them. We can only guide our own lives, support our own dreams, fight our own battles.

Garlic Cooker

I don't usually buy something for one task but this was a great idea and I do love garlic! However I have learned that this little darling is quite useful for roasting other veggies without turning on a big oven, good for one or two people, not a family though.
Today I diced up a small Japanese eggplant, shallots, seasoned with a spicy herb mix, garlic powder, s/p and oil. You put it in the cooker and push the button and leave it for about 26 minutes.
I smeared the cooked mixture in a tortilla, topped with cheese, cilantro and diced heirloom tomato. Fold the tortilla and brush with oil (I used a flavored oil for more punch) and place in a hot grill pan, regular pan, flip and enjoy. Yummy!!!

Real Fun!!

It is so much fun to get paid every other week! And to get really reasonable money for what I do! Today I slid $1000 into my savings...not something that I have done other than after my income tax return comes in.
Not only that, I already have a week's vacation time on the books at API!! As soon as September 1 hits and I know that I do not need to pay for COBRA I will be one very happy camper!! You see I stocked up on my meds and I have such a good relationship with a pharmacist that I could easily trade him a tray of Pecan Pie Bars for some Levoxyl, Benicar or Lipitor!! All I need to do is avoid injury!
Yee Ha!

Contentment

This is something that I realize, more and more as I age, is not an easy thing to achieve. I care for the mentally ill in my current job. I see people who have gone all out for their goals, things that they thought would make them happy. They've had gastric bypass, plastic surgery, hair implants and make-up or hair color. They try to find themselves in an image. Others may be the overachiever, constantly on the go, always improving. Some are happy as they are, impairments and all, like the developmentally disabled that I have served in the past.
Are the people going to school, carrying large and worrisome loans, working OT or 2 jobs to make ends meet, are they content? When that 55 year old attorney looks at herself in the mirror and sees that the creases are returning and her make-up is caked in them, is she content? Some of them cover their emotions in chemical dependency, some are CD because it was what they know, parents, significant others. We had one this month who had the bypass surgery but definitely was not maintaining her weight loss, her husband was leaving her and she was in for detoxification, detox. She had an old back injury and had become quite used to opiate pain relief, muscle relaxants and alcohol. Through her detox she asked for pain meds, cajoling and needling the doctors and nurses for more, more all the time more. They finally discharged her after stopping the detox and referred her back to the pain clinic. She died less than a week later from an overdose of pain killers mixed with some alcohol. She had tried so many ways to make her life something more, to gain contentment. Should we have known how depressed she was? They say it was accidental, no note or anything.
I think contentment is not something you have every day, I think it is moments, periods of time and events that give us contentment. In the mornings when I walk the dog and listen to the birds and smell the grass, I am content. When I have friends over and they are having fun, eating and enjoying my food, I am content. When I have had a good night at work, clean the house or take a picture that comes out just like I wanted, I am content.
I have those wild and crazy dreams.....winning the Lotto, looking at nice houses that I can't afford. But those are "wild and crazy" things, not real life and I know that. I can day dream and then return to real life and real life expectations. My needs are met, I have great friends, fabulous family, I have a lovely home and a rewarding job. I have contentment.

Living Life

Last night we had our Going Away Party from the consumers and staff at the Beach homes. They were told at the last minute by the Administration that they could not hold the party on grounds. So we took the party to the Bay. Arc tries to choke life from individuals at every turn but the consumers are determined to win out. The love they give is unconditional and uncontrollable.

I feel for those left behind, unmotivated to look for better employment, dedicated to the consumers they serve....whatever the reason some will stay through poor treatment and substandard pay hoping they are making the guys lives better.

My life is already better. I sleep so well, I get more exercise and quality relax time. I do things for myself, I have time for myself. Life is good......it could get better if someone would shoot the neighbors noisy bird though!!