What are my hobbies?

 This was a question my grandson posed one day. I started listing off the things I do. Namely, walking (training for a half marathon), learning Spanish and ASL, taking care of the house. All boring stuff. So boring, in fact, that I have nothing to say at a cocktail party. 

I never really have. Keep in mind, I was previously an accountant before I was a full time grandma. Not terribly interesting, unless I'm in a room full of other accountants.

As usual, the better response came to me several hours later. (Does that ever happen to you? The snappy, witty response never appears in the moment.) It was, "You. You are my hobby."

Alright. Maybe that's not snappy and witty but it's the truth. And, it's not full time but I do spend some time with the littles nearly every day driving them around because it's a lot. I don't know how parents could manage multiple kids' schedules without help.

I do those other things too. Walking, Spanish, etc. I started knitting a blanket once. It was meant to be a Christmas present. Three years ago.  

Maybe I could pick that up again. 

That would be a good hobby.

[Editor's note: Between the time I drafted and posted this, I did finish that blanket and started another one. And it is a good hobby.]

I’ve had some time on my hands

Cold and Flu

Nailed it!

I saw this quote and it spoke to me:

"... if this is your preferred way, you are likely an older sibling and you file your taxes in February."

Correct on both counts.

Not an online personality quiz, this quote comes from an article from Bon Appétit: How to Soften Butter - Quickly - According to a Pro Baker.

I tried the method called "The Only Adult in the Room" but I think I'll go with "The Rule Breaker" next time.

Or maybe I should just plan a little in advance.

On Getting Old

I don't know the half of it, I'm sure. (Considering my age, I think I should know at least the half of it.)

So far, getting old is a little like high school. Consider where I live: a 55+ community. The one I live in is about 1,000 homes which makes its population about the same size as my high school. There are the same cliques: jocks, stoners, band, choir, student council. There are popular kids and outcasts. And rumors. So many rumors!

Then, there are the surprising and unexpected changes in one's body. For example, when I look in the mirror, I sometimes don't recognize who is staring back at me. Sometimes, I see the me that's always been me. Other times, I just see an old lady and I wonder, "How did this happen?" I think about my granddaughter and what she sees when she looks at me. "Old" can be the only answer even when I feel as young as ever (mostly).

Body parts ache or don't work the same as they used to. Flexibility and physical capacity are diminished even when my mind believes otherwise. Why don't things work like they used to when I don't feel any different on the inside?

Speaking of inside, there's a betrayal going on. My body - the one that's been with me my whole life - doesn't respond the way it used to and it doesn't recover as quickly. Take the common cold or flu. I used to be able to brush it off, push through it, hardly miss a beat. Now, it takes days or weeks.

In our community of old people, a cold or flu spreads quickly and thoroughly. Texts are exchanged to share symptoms and to find out how long whatever sickness lasts. Quarantine is self-imposed and we miss seeing neighbors for far too long.

That's the current situation. Hubby and I are both at home waiting for wellness to return for it can't be rushed or coaxed. My current cold/flu symptoms are mild so far but I've seen the neighborhood text network. It could get much worse and last for another week or more. My kids, however, aren't worried about it. Maybe I'm contagious but they're still invincible. They might get it but no biggie. And the littles - if they get it, they'll get over it quickly or even go to school in spite of it.

Well, my children. You will get old one day, too.

Back to Square One

I'm not in the Grinch Onsie so maybe we're back to Square Two. I'm back to lounging around in sweats all day without a bra, however. 

I just came down with the "icks." I don't know exactly what I have or how long I'll have it but Hubby has been sick since Day One. By that, I mean January 1. So far he's been sick for all of 2025.

And now I have it. Whatever it is.

I'm on day two (meaning, I just started feeling icky yesterday) and my symptoms are mild: a little bit of a runny nose, a little bit of post nasal drip, and a little achey. Not bad enough to crack open the cold medicine (although I stocked up jic). But it is bad enough for me to disengage from society again. If I have what Hubby's been struggling with, things could get bad for a couple of days and I wouldn't want to give that to anyone.

One complication is that I'm signed up to do a half marathon in ten days. All training has ceased so I can concentrate my energy on getting healthy but I don't want to lay around long enough to lose all the progress of my training to date. 

It seems one or both of us get sick around this time of year which isn't too alarming since it's cold and flu season. It's also tourist where I live. Around the holidays, people from other parts of the country - many of whom traveled through crowded airports - make their way to the grocery stores and entertainment venues that surround us.

A few years ago, I was more sensitive about wearing a mask during trips to the store. Now, things have gotten more casual. Even when I go to the doctor's office, not everyone wears a mask - in a place where sick people go, as a general rule. 

NOTE TO SELF: Somewhere around Thanksgiving, start wearing a mask again. Self, you can take it off when the entire neighborhood is no longer quarantined due to the common freaking cold or whatever new virus is getting passed around.

It's not all bad, being mildly sick. It sort of extends my holiday vacation. Plus, I got the yarn for my next knitting project so I'm reasonably content.  I just don't want it to get worse and I need it to get better soon. I've got a half marathon to do!

Still on the right track.

I was dressed in street clothes before noon today. Not much before noon but 11:30 still counts as morning. I did this even with no intention of leaving the house.

Yesterday, I finished the knit blanket and a book that I had been reading. Today, I started a new book and started a new blanket project. At this pace, the blanket will be done in 2030. (While I am a slow reader, I expect I'll finish the book before February.)

Around dinnertime, I decided that I had been in street clothes for long enough (a few hours, it was) and went to change my clothes. I reached for some green and blue flannel Seahawks pajama bottoms and even pulled them on before I realized the backslide. From the corner of my eye, I saw the Grinch onsie hanging on its hanger and I knew I was that close to putting it on. (I have to admit, it's very cozy.)

I resisted and put on yoga pants instead. Some people think that counts as street clothes. I don't but it should count for acceptable relaxing clothes. 

Tomorrow, I plan to be dressed before I go out into the world at 8:30 in the morning. 

Probably.

Okay, maybe.