The difference between thinking about walking and walking (from Facebook)

I woke up about six with a better plan than yesterday, which I might add, resulted in no walking except around the house.

I got dressed and drove to downtown Napa (five minutes away), bought a newspaper from a box and put it in my car, then walked (without coffee or food). Napa Creek passes behind Main street and there is a lovely walkway. Some vocal geese were marching out of the water to the other bank. I wonder who owns them. Anyone? God? The walkway only went a short way, so I doubled back past cafes opening up and the smell of bacon. Hum, checked the menu in the window, might be I will come back.

I checked my watch to judge the distance, it takes me about 45 minutes to walk two miles, yes, folks it is not called speed walking. I know, I know.

After half hour I crossed the bridge and went by the Oxbow Public Market but all was still closed. Back the other side of the street. There are many wine tasting establishments but one is in an old bungalow with a banner hanging from the porch rail that said Wine a Little, it will make you Feel Better.

The river's edge is quite thick with weeds and trees. Places to sleep if you don't have a bed. I think the homeless were waking and having their walks too. Everyone was quite friendly.

Napa Creek empties into (please forgive possible geographic errors) San Pablo Bay which is connected to SF Bay, so it is effected by the tides. It was bigger than creeks in my youth (remember in the Phoenix area, no creeks have water during normal times). Napa Creek is wide and calm and I think it's low tide. The road runs parallel.

I walked a few blocks then crossed again to Main street. I was actually entertaining ideas of getting in my car and driving to get breakfast as my 45 minute walk was complete. But I got sensible and picked up the paper and started back towards yummy smells, about 4 blocks away. I had a bagel, egg, and bacon sandwich and coffee and spent time reading the paper. Pleasant.

I'm reading a book about having a healthy brain. It describes of course, exercising makes you feel better. To demonstrate, I came home and took care of about four chores before climbing back on the computer to write.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday.
Toni

Friday morning

Good Morning to all you interested and disinterested folks.

I'm home alone in Napa and seeking electronics, there's no TV and I can't get my favorite morning radio show to stream from KEZ99.9 in Phoenix. Don't know how to get a radio station on the stereo, but I imagine there is a way. So I am having coffee and wondering how to entertain myself. Sad, huh.

Wendy called, an acquaintance of my daughter's who has a guest set up that I might stay in. She would like a house sitter for the first two weeks of August to take care of six cats while they vacation. I am going to meet her today to take a look at the set up and decide if I want to help out in August. It might be a good time for hubby to visit.

I love being with family and waking up seeing smaller granddaughter asleep in the other twin bed is a total hoot. There is however, no storage space. Most of my stuff is in the rustic basement, computer, sewing machine, most clothes, crafts, etc. I came to stay and didn't know if I would be here or in an apartment, so I did not scrimp.

I know what you are thinking: go visit wineries!! Maybe. This is a beautiful area of the world, I should be out enjoying it. I am so spoiled by all the good people at work, then having my spouse home for the last few weeks, I haven't even begun to adjust to being alone. This will come. This will come.

I'm off to get ready for the day and whatever it brings.
Toni

Summer Morning in Phoenix

I've forgotten how much I like the early mornings in our pool. Last summer slipped away as I was in Napa, and I didn't even inflate my easy chair.

At 5:30, the back yard is still shaded as the sun is low behind my neighbor's property. They have lovely palm trees just beyond the fence. Bird condos. I can see them hopping in their hallways, noisily awakening their spouses, and kids, chirping, " If you have work to do, get going. It will be a hot day!"

I set up the sprinkler to take care of the small plots of grass, get the Sunday paper, my sun hat, and reading glasses and shoved off. I feel like a light weight. Just use one foot to paddle away from the pool cleaner hose. It's all shade and very, very peaceful. Bill is still sleeping.

When Bill wakes up, he gets in the pool, too. Larry, our cat, comes along. He is such a good cat, he is almost a dog. I entice him to within arm's reach. He lays on the cool deck and revels in being scratched by mom and dad with wet hands. Crazy cat!

The lawn is all watered and I have nothing that must be done just now. I think how I can do this any day, every day, if I please. Monday is the same as Sunday. Whoa!

Soon I have finished the front page and I'm getting a little chilly. Bill stays in awhile, I move a padded chaise to a shady spot as the sun is rising and starting to spread rays. Who knows how much time passes, who cares. Not us. Finally Bill gets out and heads for the house.

He needs a hair cut, and I offer. Got him all trimmed up, and he doesn't even have to tip me.

Then it's off to First Watch for breakfast. I eat a wheat germ pancake and bacon. Lots of syrup. I'm slowly but deliciously killing myself.

I realize I must be driven to the store as my car is in the repair shop. Getting out on the black asphalt l am aware it is very hot and will get much hotter.

And so it goes...


Have you noticed when you travel out of state and people learn you are from Phoenix, they wonder where you tan is. I avoid the desert sun, but I must tell you, I had a truck driver tan after being in California last summer. Good, good.

At my age there aren't that many firsts

Yes, I am pretty sure this is the first time I watched the Presidential Inauguration and speech all the way through. I am also pretty sure watching the Cardinals and Eagles game all the way through was a first. Both were touching but not enough to make me start trusting politicians or football players.

My husband

Special Hi to Bill.

The phone rang at 5 this morning

I am lost at Nona's house and a weird thing is happening with Clem, then AWAKE. Neighbor Joyce is ready to walk. I stagger out of bed, she's fast and can be at my door in moments. Sweat pants, sweat shirt, neck scarf, fleece hat, gloves, that should do it. She rings the bell as I am zipping up. We step off the curb in the still, cold Arizona air. Wonder what it's like to take a walk in the winter in Alaska, I say, we look at each other, all bundled up, and chuckle. It's 27 below in Montreal, or some such northy place, she say. They would be walking here in tank tops and shorts. I am pulling on my gloves.

I just checked the local temperature on the PC. It's 52 folks.

Ode to Rik and other junk thoughts I wrote this weeks ago and forgot to post

Rik at work said I need to make a new BLOG entry, maybe he's right. I don't find as much inspiring in Phoenix as I did in Napa.

Since returning, I have figured out a great deal about my life and home. I have learned that clutter makes me shut down and probably does make my butt bigger. (There is a book about that Rik, in case you haven't heard.) I have trouble sewing as much as I love to because there is too much stuff in the room where I sew.

About Rik, he does not have a noticably big butt, I'm not implying that he does. He has a wicked sense of humor. Once during a office reconfiguration they moved me into a temporary work space. Rik was my neighbor. He had me in stitches. Everyday was like Saturday Nite Live. He also comes by once in awhile an makes hoochy momma eyes at me. Rik, I don't believe you for a minute!



Another thing about life in Phoenix vs Napa. The heat is oppressive, depressive and awful in Phoenix. Mornings in Napa were cool, refreshing, and promising. Mornings here until mid October are hot, damn hot! Now it's cooled off some, the days are short and the holidays are almost here. Summer in Napa was like my fantasy summer, opening up the windows and doors and letting the breeze blow through the house. It was intoxicating.



Okay, I will give this to Phoenix. I was relaxing and crocheting in my recliner by an open window last week-end. I called Carolyn in Wyoming and said (after several months' silence) what'cha doing? She says sitting here watchin in snow. Ouch!



I must also admit that I missed people at work. Sitting alone at the computer is handy to the bathroom, toaster, and printer, but it is a bit lonely. It took me a week or so after returning to a normal schedule to get talked out. Maybe that's why I don't have the same urge to Blog. Hum.



I think by the time I figure out what I need to know about myself I'll be too old to remember what to do with the information.



Very important about Phoenix is this is where Bill is. It was nice to feel the freedom of my own place, but I am so happy to be back in the smoochiness and companionship of my spouse. Having someone to love that loves you too is one of life's greatest treasures. I am still comtemplating how to move forward my desire to be with all my family in Napa. It will happen when the time is right.