Because a List (or four) on Friday has Become Der Rigeur…

Tuesday was a much better day than Monday (maybe it was a better nights sleep) and while dressing for work I looked in the mirror and said to myself, "Damn!  You look great for someone who is near 60 years old." (Big Zero birthdays have never bothered me, but 60 feels a little daunting.) 

That morning I read Nora's post on loving your body for what it is.  May I impart a bit of advice to you younger souls.  Enjoy your 30s and 40s; they are your body's best years.  Around 50+ you start dealing with aches and pains and other age issues.  This year has been a difficult one for me health-wise and so I'm going to talk about the "good stuff" and stay positive.

It's All About Me

1. While dealing with pneumonia, et al., I lost a few pounds.  The goal has been to keep it off.  So far, so good.
2. My hair is still mostly dark with some swaths of gray and I'm fine with it as is.  Coloring is not an option for this simple reason: I am too lazy to deal with it myself and all that time in a salon would make me nuts.
3. My new haircut looks cute and (dare I say) sassy.  My earrings show and I love that, too.
4. Thankfully I'm not a snack food eater.  I don't like it, it doesn't like me. Give me yogurt and berries (perhaps a few nuts) over anything else and I'm happy.
5. My neck has a few wrinkles, but has no wattle…thank goddess!!
6. My lungs have gained strengthened in just the last couple of weeks and I should be able to start working out. Yay!
7. My body looks ok, but it's weak and I must start walking (farther) and lifting weights (which I can now do...see #6.)
8. I'm at the age when what's in and what others think doesn't matter much...it's very freeing.
9. I dress and look younger than I am. My clothes and shoes don't show my age.  I never want curly blue hair.
10. Friends don't let friends act old and you'll help me out, keep me on the right track….true?  Now, that's a reason to keep blogging.

Changes (Sob)

1. The soundtrack to my week was KCRL Community Radio…Radio Free Utah.
2. I have loved this station for many, many years (over 25!).
   
3. They are changing formats as of May 5th...to paid programmers!
4. Can you believe they fired all the volunteers!?!
5. I have been very upset and continue to grieve over the change.
6. They did hire three of the volunteers…two are favorites of mine. (Thank goddess!)
7. I'm still worried that the music I love will change.
8. The volunteers have given years to the listening public and I will miss them with all my heart.
9. Many of the volunteers didn't take it lying down and have started their own web-based radio, Utah Free Media.
10. Utah is full of renegades...and don't you forget it.

This is for Sallee who asked for more mountain pictures. Mt. Olympus taken on Thursday afternoon.

It's Friday!

1. The weather has been wet (snow, hail, rain) and cold this week. (See the new snow on the mountain above?)
2. Please, please, please let us have a few warm days in a row.
3. I'm tired of bitching about the weather.
4. Next complaint will be in July when it's over 100.
5. Fridays are the best because I can wear blue jeans to work.
6. I LOVE wearing blue jeans (and lace).
7. Wearing lace and blue jeans together is even better.
8. I need want Romi's new earrings to peek out from under my new hairdo.
9. There could be a CeCe photo shoot this weekend!
10. I'll be taking Mondays off from blogging now that summer is coming. I'd rather be having fun in the sun than spend Sunday afternoon going through pictures and writing a post.

Reasons Not to Post on Monday

1. Spending Sunday outdoors (or anywhere away from a computer) sounds like fun.
2. Blogland is slow during the vacation months of summer.
3. Knitting all day Sunday (if not out of doors) would be more fun than typing.
4. More time to spend with Smith and Moxie.
5. This feels like the right time to slow down my posting schedule.
6. Maybe I'll have a dinner party...barbecue anyone?
7. I'd like to read a book (or two).
8. Maybe I'll be better at correspondence. (I suck at answering emails.)
9. Many Sundays this summer will be spent traveling or recovering from travel.
10. Why not!?

Happy Weekend, Everyone!  See you TUESDAY!

Comments

[Joan]

You do look great but then you always did. I like your life plan a lot and everything you say is true. I don't think you will ever be old. It's all about attitude. I hope things continue to look up for you after a bad year. You deserve it.

[Kim]

Margene, you look GREAT! Not fun to lose weight the way that you did, but at the end of the day...you do look fabulous!

Kudo's to you for taking Monday's off and being good to yourself!

Count me in on that barbeque, well, a cyber barbie anyways :-)

[Carole]

I know how much you love that radio station and I'm sorry that they are changing the format. I hope enough of it stays the way you like it best. You look fabulous - always! I want those new earrings, too. Even though I love the shape of the others they tend to work their way out of my ears and I have to be careful not to lose them.
I will miss you on Mondays!

[Dianne]

Margene,
From where I sit and look..you look
Mahvahlous!..You're a very elegant looking lady!...Remember age is only some numbers..some people just have larger digits..I'm very close to your age..and except for the last 10 month interruption in life for my Mom..I'm loving my age..it is a new freedom..there are many more important issues than allowing age to bring us down.
You are doing all the right 'stuff' to stay physically fit..and your knitting is a great mental escape from the daily rigors.
Enjoy your Mondays off..blogging should always be fun..just like knitting~

[CindyCindy]

I'm grateful for many things at my age/your age. Health and love are the main things. As for your beloved station? I cannot believe paid programmers. I'm so sorry. I was listening to KDHX yesterday, Fred Fusion, and he kept playing things like the Kinks while talking about joining the station (I am a member, of course) and I thought there is no way they could do this on the Clear Channel stations. I think Mondays off is a very good idea for you. Have a fabulous weekend. May you wriggle your toes in warm grass!

[Manise]

Grrl, you look fabulous! I'll miss you Monday mornings as I eat my cereal and sip on hot coffee- it'll be nice for you to have a day off!

[bellamoden]

Time to enjoy yourself and to knit more sounds great!

I had no idea about your age! This isn't a bad thing at all. It's great. I wish more people were like you.

[Wool Winder]

Looking good! It's the fresh mountain air that keeps you young. Enjoy your weekend.

[mary lou]

I recently decided to stop coloring my gray - I've been going gray since HS. At the same time, and with no discussion between us, my sister who lives a thousand miles away decided to do the same. The verdict? Her 8 year old said "Silver is a verrry cool color."

[marie in florida]

se you tuesday, you look wonderful.

[Anne]

You do look great! Great haircut - it is perfect for the warm weather this weekend (fingers crossed they actually mean it this time....)

[Hillary]

You look great for any age and I whole heartedly support your vow to avoid blue hair. Is there anything funnier than someone who has unintentionally turned their hair an odd color?
Than mountain shot is great. Enjoy your Mondays off.

[Norma]

You look and act damn beautiful at any age! I'll miss you on Mondays, but I think it's a great idea to give yourself an extra day to do what YOU want, and to catch up. XOXO

[Knitnana]

Thank you! LOVE the mountain shot!

And I agree with a huge portion of your lists...since moving into my 50s I'm getting more and more likely to say, "my way is what's good for me..." and not worry a whit about what others think or do!

And ditto on the "fashion" point, too!
I LOVE your hair and agree completely - don't color it, not worth it...just like I won't take a "tuck" here or there, either!

And I'm going to wear more lace with my jeans this summer, just 'cause I love it, too!

You are inspiring and I'll miss you on Mondays - but I know where you're coming from on the time factor!
((((Hugs))))

[Keatyn]

You look great!
I will miss you on Mondays but I completely understand why you are going to be skipping Mondays. I mean who wants to sit at the computer on a gorgeous day when they could be outside doing something.

[Nora]

Margene, you are beautiful. You've got all the right attitudes, and such joy for life - it's wonderful. Have you read Martha Beck's memoir Leaving the Saints? I had to laugh over your delight in your earrings showing - Martha writes that you can identify the raging feminists at BYU because they are the ones whose earrings hang below their hair! (Mine do!)

xo

[Vicki]

Have a great weekend, Margene -- a whole summer full of them!! I'm all about loving the gray hair and keeping time in the salon as short as possible!!!

[Anne B.]

What, no more "funk fridays". I loved that show! Thanks for the inspiring comments as well! Work it girl!

[Marcia Cooke]

You are aging well, indeed! I am now paying the price for my mis-spent youth of smoking (quit cold turkey 15 years ago) and sun-tanning! As for the gray, I'm with you. WAY too lazy and cheap to get into that nonsense...more money for yarn! As for the blogless Monday, well, you deserve it and I'll miss it.

[Stacey]

Enjoy your long weekends. :D Summer is the best time for that. Since I'll be doing some traveling, I'll be slowing down a little too.

[Miriam]

I'll bring pasta salad and liquor if you're throwing the barbeque ;)

[heather]

You look great. I'm sorry about the radio station, but yeah, Utah's full of renegades! :)

[Chris]

You look FABULOUS for any age. :) I hear ya about the weather... *sigh* And the 4-day blogging week totally works for me - in fact, it's something I might think about myself. Better to take measures instead of burning out.

Sending you sunny thoughts!

[elizabeth]

Wow, you look awesome! I'm so glad you said that about dressing younger. I've been debating on making a Juliet cardi and one of my "cons" was that it is a youngish pattern - could I get by with it at 43? I think I'll give it a go!

[Heather Joins The Round]

You look fantastic! FANTASTIC! Love the haircut.

[Beth S.]

I am going to be one of those old ladies with the enormous braid that wraps around the head. No blue helmet-hair for me either! And I might henna once I start to go really grey. It's messy to apply, but it's actually good for you, and I've always wished I'd been born with flaming red locks. ;-)

It's a terrible shame about your radio station. :-( I wonder if the old stalwarts would consider going online? Seriously, I think that the independents are all going to be driven into cyberspace eventually. I even worry about NPR sometimes.

[Anne]

Speaking of Moxie, how is he doing?

(you look terrific.)

[Karen]

Boy, what you said about your 30's and 40's being your body's best years is so true! I can't believe how much my body changed once I hit 50! Even my hair is different.

Happy weekend.

[Cookie]

I will miss you on Mondays, but I am glad you'll be taking that extra time for yourself and your family.

Ya know, I'm 20 years younger than you and I have more grey hair. Clearly, you have been doing something right along and I need to hurry up and learn.

Happy Weekend!

[Romi]

I love your hair! And you do look great.

About those earrings...I'm having a sale. :) Details here in red:

http://www.designsbyromi.com

What can I say? I'm a shameless enabler. ;)

[Annie]

Yay you, Margene! You look great....and I love the new haircut and sassy outlook. Enjoy your extra long weekend away from blogging. :)

[Laura]

Hey, I wanna come over on Monday! I love your hair cut almost enough to copy you. I'll think on it. But I might also like mine to be blue and curly. heh

[Birdsong]

You DO look sassy, which is good considering you have had to work hard to get back in good health while putting up with bad weather. I am glad you are ready to work out again; gives me hope. Age isn't bothering me, but getting so many colds this year has been a setback. I want the energetic, sassy me back, and you are giving me hope. Glad you are planning for summer fun!

[Teyani]

Your new "do" looks snazzy ! Glad to hear that your health continues to improve, and also that you are taking time to play more. (that's always a good idea in my opinion)

[sandy]

Mahgeeennneee, I've gotta tell you girl, you look FABO!!! You do!
I find Fridays and Saturdays in blogland to be insufferable. I can't stand it. Now you know. No matter what I say or do, people are busy. I'm feeling a bit comment peevish, which I deserve because I'm not out leaving comments either. So, I reap what I sow, I guess.
:D
xoxoxoxo
Love your haircut, girl! Love your lists! I love a great list!

[claudia]

I am so glad you are feeling stronger.