Birthday Flowers 2012

Ever since I moved to this town some fifteen years ago, my friend, Ralph and godson, Nathaniel, send me flowers for my birthday. Since I took off a couple of days last week, Ralph postponed sending them until today, so I would get the benefit of a full week's enjoyment of them at the office.

It's My Birthday...And I'll CRY If I Want To

I haven't enjoyed my birthday for more than 20 years now...I have my reasons.  But, with the single exception of the year I turned twenty, those birthdays that ended with a "zero" have always held a "special" dread in my heart.  And this year, I reach the ripe old age of 60.  I'll say that again...60! Oh, the horror!  To paraphrase Dylan Thomas, I am not going "gentle" into my so-called golden years.

The funny thing is...I don't remember getting this old.  I just woke up one day and - POOF - here I was. And I've heard all the well-meaning wishes and popular platitudes:  "You're only as old as you feel," "Age is only a number," "It's better than the alternative," "Your best years are ahead of you," etc.  I know people mean well but, in all honesty, these sentiments do not comfort me.  Oh, how I wish they did.

I guess, when all is said and done, I have become a walking, talking "cliche."  I have morphed into another of those aging "crones" who has begun to question her mortality, who realizes that she has fewer days in front of her than she left behind her, who has seen so many of the hopes and dreams of her youth wither and turn to dust to be vaporized with each passing year.  It truly sucks...this getting old.

It wasn't until recently that I really listened to the words of the following song, and it struck a particular chord with me.  I'm certain that countless others feel the same way.  I know that Susan Boyle turned "I Dreamed A Dream" into her personal anthem...of sorts, but I love this version sung by the cast of "Glee."  It is a little different slant on the song in that it is sung by Rachel (Lea Michele) and the mother (Idina Menzel) who gave her up for adoption at birth.  It all washes out the same in the end, however; "now life has killed the dream I dreamed."

Two Day Binge Alert

I took a little road trip up to Centerville this morning for an extra special treat; I have declared a two-day moratorium on the low carb thing. Anyway, I have been lusting after "Gigi's Cupcakes" for a couple of weeks now and have carefully and methodically been planning my two-day binge to include a small selection of these tasty morsels. The first one I "taste-tested" was the Peanut Butter Cup, and I promise you that it tasted even better than it looks in the photo below.

I would have taken the picture myself, but have managed to mess up yet another digital camera.  These photos are from the website. I defy you to NOT lick your computer screen.

Law & Order CI Season 7 DVD Release Date

I received an email today from TVShowsOnDVD.com regarding the upcoming release date for Law & Order Criminal Intent, Season 7 - YAY!!  It is available for pre-order at Amazon.com.  The following is the blurb from the website:

"With the first six seasons (which aired on NBC) already on DVD, fans have wondered if the final four seasons (which moved to the USA Network) would see the light of day. Worry no longer! Today a pre-order entry (see button link below) at Amazon.com revealed that Law & Order: Criminal Intent - The 7th Year is indeed coming to DVD, and will be in stores on June 26th. The price is $49.97 SRP, but you can lock in your copy at a discount if you pre-purchase it right away. We also have an early look at the box art for you, too!"

And this is the artwork...so they say.

Old, But Healthy...ish

So, I went to the doctor this morning...just a routine visit. The good news is, I have lost 11 pounds since my last visit in December, so that makes (approximately) a total of 50 pounds since July 3, 2011. My blood pressure was 110/76, and that is without the aid of medication. I'll know more about my cholesterol situation on Monday when the results of the blood work come in. Also, when the doctor listened to my lungs and heart beat, she used words like "perfect" and "wonderful." Not so bad for a fat, old crone...eh?

UPDATE: My doctors's office called around 4:30p.m. They ALREADY had the results from my blood work they drew this morning. (I am completely flummoxed by that fact alone.) More good news. My cholesterol is 25 points LOWER than it was in December, so I don't have to start taking a cholesterol medication, and I don't have to go back to the doctor for six months.

It's Official...I'm OLD!!!!

I came home today to find something positively and horrifyingly "wretched" waiting for me in my mailbox...the Golden Buckeye Card. That's right...I'm OFFICIALLY old! How thoughtful of the State of Ohio to remind me...as if I didn't know this already.  And it's not even my birthday yet.

Did I ask the State to bestow upon me this..this validation of my advancing years? I did not! And yet they took it upon themselves to do that very thing. The card states that it is a "link to elder caregiver & aging services." Yeah. Well, Bite Me! "We" are NOT amused.