MY CALENDAR

          My calendar for the next month, including this last week of August is getting quite full. I know I’ve complained about having too much to do in the past, but time is flying by and I still have so much I want to do. I’m just hoping I don’t exhaust myself in the process of meeting all the commitments I’m putting on the calendar.

          First, I have my fitness classes three times a week plus I said I was going to return to water exercise in the river in September. That may now become October because it means I’m committed every single morning for the entire week. I may need to go back to bed on Tuesday and Thursday mornings if I don’t have another commitment for that morning.         

          The first item on the calendar aside from fitness class, is another trek to Woodland Park Zoo with Xander. We only managed half the zoo a couple of weeks ago and he didn’t see the red panda. So, we’re going back. I’m sure it will also include another ride…or two…on the carousel and lunch someplace aside from Zeeks. I keep trying to interest him in foods that aren’t McDonalds or pizza, but so far have been unsuccessful. Maybe nine years old is still too young for him to adventure into Mexican or Thai cuisine.

I am going to return to my driftwood sculpture class the second week of September. For that class I need some new driftwood which necessitates a trip to the beach. The last day of August, I’m going to Double Bluff Beach on Whidby Island with a friend and both our dogs. I was told it has a tremendous amount of driftwood lying about and one of the beaches is off-leash. I’m hoping Kuma has a wonderful time and that I come back with some interesting driftwood.

          At the time of this writing, I’m also considering a trip to the Pacific Coast. Again, with my friend and her dog. It would take three days of a week and two nights in a hotel/motel/resort. Unfortunately, in looking at the weather forecast, it doesn’t appear as though it’s going to be terribly warm and sunny. That brings up the question of whether or not I want to go someplace that will be cold and windy when cold and miserable weather is just around the corner where I live all the time. I guess it will depend partly on how successful my Whidby island trek is when it comes to driftwood I can turn into amazing sculptures.

          Then, there are family commitments, all of which I definitely want to do. My aunt is 95 and recently fell and broke her pelvis. She’s back at the Foss now, but in the nursing section. I’m going to see her this coming week and believe I should attempt to see her fairly frequently. I’m hoping she comes back from this problem with a vengeance.

          There’s my favorite cousin. I promised in 2022 that I would drive down to her place for a visit. She almost always drives north for family events unless we all meet at Southcenter. Well, I failed to keep my promise in 2022, but it’s on the calendar for 2023. She’ll make me lunch. I’ll get to see her remodel. And we’ll have hours in which to chat about anything and everything.

          My favorite oldest son turns 53 in September as well. He’s gotten to the age where he insists there’s nothing he wants (that’s my line and I’m much older) as a gift. Before Covid and again last year, I made Swedish meatballs for him and the family for dinner. I don’t yet know if he wants to do that this year, but I’m game. When it comes to the meatballs, I’ve made them once, but he insists that the ones from Ikea are just fine which would necessitate a trip to Ikea and maybe a visit to my sister who lives nearby. I do have a recipe and it would be fun to host the entire family for the first time in 2023.

          There’s also a lunch on the calendar toward the end of September with a number of Woodland Park Zoo folks. I’m really looking forward to that although I don’t see how six of us can bring each other up to date in just a couple of hours…maybe I should suggest we each type out a short synopsis of our lives since leaving the zoo and bring handouts. No matter, it will be fun to see these folks again.

          At the end of September another best friend will have her birthday. In the past, I think she’s always gone with her husband to some enjoyable location to celebrate both their birthdays…his is a week later, I think. Anyway, she’s had a serious setback this year, so I think all her friends should rally round with cake, presents, cards, comradery on her special day. Maybe I should discuss this with her best friend.

          Amongst all the above, I’m sure there will be lunches and/or events that will take up some time…do have an additional two lunches on the calendar already. In addition, the garden needs a lot of work and preparation for the coming winter. Kuma also needs to get on the schedule and begin going on walks now that the weather is cooling off (at least I hope it is).  And, writing, I need to find time to write, whether it’s just these off the cuff blog posts or a more serious work.

          Finally, I hope you don’t see this as whining about being over-extended. I’m actually looking forward to everything I’ve put into this blog as well as the things that haven’t yet been scheduled. I do think I’m going to need to pace myself a bit better than I’ve done in the past. It may mean skipping a fitness class now and then and my body (and mind, what’s left of it) will let me know when it needs to rest up for the next adventure. I’m sure I’ll be reporting via this blog about my various events.

          And, then, before I/we know it, it will be October…absolutely scary how fast this year has flown by.