You Know You're Old When...

after spending about 7 hours on Saturday recovering 3 dining room chairs I feel like I've been in a car accident. Between leaning over a table loosening and tightening screws, removing about 6o staples per chair, and stapling 60 more with a staple gun every part of my body is sore from my lower back up to my neck; even my fingers hurt. What? When did this happen? I planned on completing the other three chairs today, but instead I rolled out of bed, took two aspirin every 4 hours, and whined about my achy body for the rest of the day. I'm going to have to give myself a few days off before I finish that project. Who knew that such a simple project would be so difficult.

I'm too young to feel this old! Or is it I feel to young to be this old? Today I feel old, that's for sure.

I'm Old - Part 2

Last night I went to a Crowded House concert with Mike and Marcie. When we arrived Mike commented, "This doesn't look like it's going to be a young crowd." It didn't matter though because the show was fantastic and they played most of my favorite songs.

Yah, but this morning I realized that the crowd wasn't young, and not only that, they were our age. This morning after looking at some of their CDs I was reminded that I started listening to them about 21 years ago. Holy Cow! Twenty-one years ago! I was 13 years old when their first album came out.

To me it's amazing that it's been that long and that the band members, who I had big crushes on, are now +/- 50 years old and playing to semi-sold out crowds of thirty somethings.

Later this morning, I met up with an old high school friend who I have somewhat kept in touch with. She was in town for a family thing and we got together for coffee. As we talked about "old times" it occurred to me that we have been out of high school for such a long time...17 years in fact. (ugh, that just makes feel like vomiting) Neither of us have kids, but we have mutual friends who have children who are up to 13 years old. How is that possible? I couldn't have a 13 year old kid, could I?

On my way home from coffee, I stopped at Walmart to pick up some household items like a new iron and an ironing board cover. My ironing board is an over the door board and it's great, but the padding is old and now when I iron I get beehive-type marks on my dark clothes. I was planning on buying a new one, but then was pleasantly surprised that they made replacement covers for the over-the-door ironing boards. How exciting! Yes, I was excited.

(This is not a photo of my board, but my new cover is the same ugly blue.)

When I got my new items home, I spent some time changing the board cover and unpacking my new iron. I had a sense of accomplishment and I was giddy with excitement about my new iron and cover. Yes, you heard right, giddy! HOW SAD IS THAT?

So, today is not only Sunday, a day that I loathe, but it has also been one of those days where I feel like I am 110 years old and my life is basically over. I hate those days!

I'm Old!

I'm taking a break from trip posts to tell about an event that happened this afternoon.

After work today, I came home, changed into my jammies, and started making dinner. During dinner prep my doorbell rang. It was about 5:00 and since I was in my PJs, I decided not to answer the door. I never answer the door if I am not expecting someone. Who comes to the door at 5:00 in the evening? Solicitors, that's who. Important people in my life don't just show up at my door unannounced.

The doorbell rang. Then there were knocks on the door. Koho, my dog, of course went nuts; barking and running around the house. I still ignored it.

After a few moments, I heard noises in my backyard (which is really the side yard - I'm on a corner lot). I looked out the window and saw a boy, of about 12, running in my backyard and then back out again. After getting over the shock of seeing someone back there, I got upset. I marched to the front door, opened it, and yelled, "What are you doing?"

Three boys who stood at my side gate looked at me and froze. After a moment, one of the boys walked away shrugging, while I yelled, "Come here," to the other two. They walked over to my half open door (still in my jammies) and stood looking at me. Koho continued to run around the house barking so I couldn't open the door all the way. This is how the rest of the conversation went...

Me: What are you doing? (shrieking)
Boy 1,2: Uh, uh
Me: What are you doing in my backyard? (still shrieking)
Boy 1: Uh, we had to get this (holding up something that was shot out of a big toy gun)
Me: So you just decided to go in my backyard? (no longer shrieking, but talking in my stern teacher voice)
Boy 2: We knocked on your door.
Me: I don't care. You went in my backyard! (shrieking again)
Boy 1, 2: (stare)
Me: Where do you live? (shrieking continues)
Boy 1, 2: (points behind my house)
Me: How would you feel if you found me in your backyard and I wasn't supposed to be there? (Back to the teacher voice)
Boy 1: Pretty mad.
Me: Yah, pretty mad is right!
Boy 1, 2: (stare)
Me: I don't want to ever see you in my backyard again. That is not ok!
Boy 1, 2: OK
Me: Never again! (almost shrieking)
Boy 1, 2: OK
Me: Sheesh (closes the door)

So, let me ask you, did I behave like the old, scary cat lady that lives in the neighborhood? Did I react like the cranky, old neighbor who says, "Stay outta my yard ya young whipper snappers." I think so. In my defense however isn't that breaking and entering? I'm just saying. Anyways, now if my house gets T-Pd, or egged, or I get murdered in my sleep we will know why.