Linette Grows Up

On Tuesday I got my first pair of “grownup glasses.”

That’s what my eye doctor calls them.

They’re actually multifocals.

If I hold something about ten inches away and through the bottom part of my lenses, sort of cross-eyed, I can see that something nice and clear. If I look through a small area in the center of my new glasses I can see items at arm’s length clearly. And if I look through the top of my lenses I can see things far away crystal clear.

They were made just for me, and cost me a lot of money.

I should love them.

I want to love them.

I’m trying really hard to love them.

But so far, they are driving me batty!

They say it will take me a week or two to learn how to adjust my head and neck as I look about, so I’m looking through the right part of my glasses to see in focus at all distances. But I don’t think I’m learning anything, except maybe how to put up with everything around me swinging in and out of focus.

But I’ll try to be patient. What else can I do? I don’t think the eye doctor takes returns.

In the meantime if you see me swaying as I walk or tripping on curbs, I’m not drunk.

I’m just old.

I mean “grownup.”

2012 aint all bad

I did laundry on Wednesday, January 18^th, 2012. I did many other things that day as well. But after work, and running a few errands, and before Choir practice that evening, I was able to sneak in 3 loads of wash: one load of darks, one of whites, and one of mainly towels. It was my little chore for the day.

That was Wednesday, January 18^th, 2012.

But what if it had been January 18^th, 1912?

What if destiny had me born 100 years earlier, or 200, or 1000? What would doing the laundry be like then?

Would I have hot running water? Not likely. I’d probably have to pump my water from a well, if I had a pump, and a well. Otherwise I’d have to fetch it from a stream or spring, I guess. Then I’d have to heat it up over a fire or stove once I had that going with wood or coal or whatever sort of fuel people used 100, or 200, or 1000 years ago. Then I’d grab my bar of lye soap and get right in there with my hands, scrubbing each garment on a wash board, or a rock. I’ve never washed anything this way, but I imagine it would be back-breaking work. Then I’d have to ring out the clothes and hang them up to dry. How did they dry things when it's 5 degrees outside? Indoors, I suppose.

In short, doing laundry in 2012 isn’t much of a chore like it used to be in the days before indoor plumbing, water heaters and automatic washers and driers.

I’m really glad about that.

I’m also glad 2012 comes with…

refrigerators, freezers, stoves, ovens, and microwaves that make food storage and preparation almost a no-brainer

vehicles that get us places (even in this bitter cold) in relative comfort

glasses that help people like me see 20/20

antibiotics when we need them

toilets that flush

telephones

tampons

zippers

What modern-day conveniences/inventions do you appreciate most?

Fun Family Facts

Occasionally, when I’ve nothing else to do and the mood strikes me, I like to head over to the internet movie database website (IMDb.com) and spend a little time reading about my favorite movies and TV shows.

Last night I found out these fun facts about Everybody Loves Raymond:

Ray Romano, who played Ray Baron, is actually 3 years older than Brad Garrett, who played his older brother Robert on the show.

The two characters who have been in every episode are Ray (of course) and Doris Roberts, who played Ray’s overbearing yet loving mother, Marie.

The actors who played the Baron children, Michael, Geoffrey, and Ally, are real-life siblings Sullivan, Sawyer, and Madylin Sweeten.

And now, a few fun facts about our real-life family:

The only member of our family who doesn’t share a birthday with a relative is Zack.

Jeff’s birthday on Nov. 11^th is the same as my nephew David’s.

My birthday on Aug. 13^th is the same as Jeff’s nephew Andrew’s.

JJ’s birthday on March 9^th is the same as my nephew Nathan’s.

And Mandie and Danica not only share a birthday with each other (5 years apart), but with my sister Becky, whose birthday is on Feb. 7^th.

Interestingly, our son-in-law fits right in, sharing a birthday with Grandpa Jon on April 8^th. Way to go Dan!

Speaking of birthdays, even though all the “boys” in our family have brown eyes, and all of the girls have blue or green eyes, the boys prefer white birthday cake, and the girls prefer chocolate.

That's all the interesting family trivia I could think of.

And now, here's a special treat for you…

one of my favorite scenes from Everybody Loves Raymond…

Just Do It

Did you make any resolutions this year?

Having trouble keeping them?

Guess what. I know the trick to keeping any resolution.

It’s pretty simple, really.

But then again, most things in life are.

For example, most people know how to get in shape.

You just eat less and exercise more.

To save money,

just spend less than you make.

Get organized by putting things where they belong.

Simple.

And so the trick is…

drum roll…

Just do it!

That’s it.

Nike™ had it right all along.

Now I realize a lot more can be said about any self-improvement plan. Libraries and bookstores are filled with books and videos on most any bad habit. And many of these are extremely helpful and encouraging.

But when it comes right down to it, the only way to make a change, any change, is to simply make up your mind to do it, and then do it.

Because…

Healthy people eat healthy foods.

Non-smokers don’t buy cigarettes.

Good parents spend time with their kids.

Writers write.

Runners run.

And guitarists pick up their guitars and play them!

If you want to do something, it’s not complicated.

Just do it!

There.

Now you know the secret.

So…

What are you going to do now?