On Aging and Snowpants
Hopefully by now everyone has recovered from their turkey comas, Since today is Sunday, I am in the gallery pondering a new cow painting. This time a group of Holsteins (dairy cattle.) I will talk more on them next post, when I’ve actually done something to talk about.
Anywho, as I sit here, I realize that I must be adjusting to this whole getting older thing. I’ve recently done two things that drew me to this conclusion.
The Two Things
1. We recently bought a Nintendo DS with the intention of playing Big Brain Academy and similar type games. After all my talk of playing bloodthirsty, alien huntin’, bag guy killin’, shoot before you think, style games. We have finally purchased an age appropriate game. (I wonder what’s next . . . Mahjong and card parties?)
For those unfamiliar with Big Brain Academy (and the many other versions out there) it is developed to test and strengthen your mental performance. Some studies have been shown that doing this sort of activity is good for maintaining mental acuity as you age and for staving off Alzheimer’s. (As are many activities such as painting.)
2. The aforementioned snowpants. My husband has been nagging me every single winter since . . . well since we were married, some 18 years ago, to buy a pair. I always stubbornly refused. Mike would point to the thermometer outside, I’d say “Oh give me a break, it’s only 20 below, jeans and sneakers will be fine.” Mike, would sigh heavily, accompanied by much rolling of eyes.
I grew up in rural Minnesota where, unless you owned a snowmobile, you were considered a pansy (well thats not actually the word used. The actual word is spelled similarly, but since this is a family friendly blog . . .) for wearing them. Now my redneck family honored and rewarded tuffness. For instance, a favorite winter test was to run barefoot to grandma’s house (a block away) in knee-deep drifts. (Uh-huh, thaaats right! I did mention we grew-up redneck. Though interestingly enough, besides encouraging the visual arts, we also listened to allot of classical music. Go figure. I guess we were our own special breed of redneck. )
Finally this year I agreed. I walk a couple of miles everyday, for my health. And as it is now below freezing most days, the idea of of going out in the cold becomes less and less appealing. Now however, bundled in my new snowpants. (No photo supplied, because I have to draw the line somewhere on my humiliations for your amusement) I feel all toasty and warm in the harshest winds. Though I have been heckled by one person, I don’t care. My cheeks won’t get chapped this year.
Good for you! Could not live without my carhart jumpsuit — and it is never quite as cold here as out there or in MN, for that matter. Who dared to heckle you?
Going to view a college class this morning and deliver the portrait — I hope she is truly pleased with it — I did several things to try and make the little girl’s image more childlike and reflective of the photo. I do not think I will take on anymore people until I practice alot more.
Like your Thanksgiving post, very much, I have much to be thankful for.
Angela
P.S. Thanks for the links on the NintendoDS — can two play at once? I am shocked — how mature! Angela
Angela, Mike put in the NintendoDS and Big Brain links (he’s big on the monetizing.) There is a dual challenge which requires two Nintendo’s (which we don’t have.) for a head to head challenge. But the game offers seperate registrations so it keeps track of multiple players. It’s kind of addictive.
I was heckled by the Cafe owner next door. Mind you she was in a knee length house dress.
I was charged by a pitbull yesterday on my walk. And as I stood there while he was foaming at the mouth, at my feet, I thought At least I’m bundled head to toe, it should lessen the mauling. I have a weird kind of calm come over me when I think I’m about to die. I think over my options and form a plan as if I’m relaxing somewhere, instead of about to be seriously hurt.
Fortunately, I wasn’t mauled. Only because I know what to do in those type of situations. After, I promptly went to city hall and lodged a complaint. Had I been a child or just about anybody who doesn’t know how to read animals, they would have been hurt. I’ve no doubt.
Anyway, back to the snowpants, they were a bit of a comforting thought at that moment.