I dreamed last night Tiger Woods was at a big event planning to introduce me as his new girlfriend. I was wearing a skimpy gold workout outfit, and I looked hot. Except I was still old, and people were kind of noticing that, wondering about Tiger’s choice. He was about to explain when I woke up.
That was probably for the best. Some things you just don’t need to know.
Although I didn’t watch the Grammys, I’ve watched replay after replay of 80-year-old Joni Mitchell singing Both Sides Now and a graying Tracy Chapman performing Fast Car with Luke Combs. Kind of noticing they are getting older, and in a good way.
Both Sides Now speaks to me about youthful optimism, wisdom and regret. What a song, and she was so young when she wrote it. How did she know? I think my favorite line is, “Well, something’s lost, but something’s gained in living every day.”
Aging has it challenges, but you know, it’s not all bad. As for me, I’ve lost a lot of my fearlessness, but I honestly don’t want it back. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with myself. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gained a (mostly) quieter mind and am happy with less.
Joni and Tracy inspired me to charge up my ear buds and listen to music when I walked today. Lately, I haven’t bothered, but then I think about stuff the whole time, and no good can come of that. But today I came home singing along to Papa was a Rolling Stone, and that’s better than coming home pissed off about one thing or another. So many things to choose from.
Rain is good, I get that, but it gets old. I’ve gotten to where I don’t mind walking in light rain, but golf is a different story. It sucks to get all your gear wet, and the course is a muddy mess right now. Not much golf going on, except in my dreams.
Math is not my strong suit, so I’ve always avoided Sudoku, but atmospheric rivers will make you do crazy things. And, actually, Sudoku isn’t based on any learned math as far as I can tell, even though numbers are involved. For me, it’s more about patterns and logic.
Anyway, I’m actually quite pleased with my progress and can now do a medium difficulty puzzle in 30-45 minutes. A hard one takes me an hour, and I usually have to guess at least once. My goal is no guesses. I’ve learned some solving techniques including the tricksy hidden pairs and hidden triples, but try as I might, there other strategies I don’t yet understand.
I’ve been looking at books on Amazon, but I can see where that might be a slippery slope. I guess I want one book to rule them all, and I’m not sure which one to get. Any recommendations?
Strange dream…keep it up.
It may be because I like all things Italian, but you might enjoy Andrea Camilleri’s series of books about Inspector Montalbano, a policeman in Sicily. Funny and intriguing is the best description.
Ciao bella!
Sloppy writing on my part, but the result is fantastic! I meant books about Sodoku, but you’ve offered so much more! Thank you.
short answer: The Dud Avocado
long answer: Middlemarch
Again, I messed up. I meant Sodoku books, but sometimes nature takes its course. I’m excited about your recommendations!
Dear Donna, I’m still around and I thought I should reply. I don’t share your madness with golf but I do understand. I could write about various things with which you might have a little in common, but probably not! Joni Mitchell is one and I am only slightly younger than her, possibly in better shape (I choose to say that!). I have followed her music for a long time and I liked her early stuff which seemed to be a kind of one off, special music. I do not think anything else was comparable. Alan
Alan — you are sounding better and better all the time! Cheers to your continued recovery. I agree — there’s nothing quite comparable to Joni.
I love your comment about thinking too much and “no good can come of that.” Wise words. It is so easy to overthink things and it doesn’t help anyone, particularly myself.
I am always on the lookout for a good book. One of my favorites was Mad Honey. I would highly recommend it if you haven’t already read it.
Overthinking is my middle name, but I have improved somewhat. Thanks for the recommendation — I will check it out!
I guess I’m the only person who thought you meant Sudoku books and I can’t help because Sudoku frustrates me. Sorry.
It is frustrating!
First time Grammy watcher and only to hear Joni and Tracy. Ended up enjoying several other singers, but still turned it off after a couple hours and muted it for all the speeches. I love walking to music. Did you find yourself walking faster during upbeat songs? Sometimes I play air guitar when I walk, but not when other people are around. Although there are real rockers in their 70s who play on stage so maybe it wouldn’t be so weird for me to play air guitar as I walk.
I’m impressed by your sudoku. I’ve only tried it a couple of times, unsuccessfully, so I’m sticking to word games.
I did find myself walking faster depending on the song, and I confess to a little air guitar. If I don’t see anyone nearby, I might sing along.
We should start a walking group for old ladies playing air guitar.
I haven’t looked for books on Sudoku, but a few websites help. It’s always about solving the pairs first – if you can. Then look for the rows/columns with the most filled in numbers. Write the possible choices in the corners of each empty cell. Go from there. I just read that some cells have “forced” entries.
I’ve been doing Sudoku for years and sometimes, the hard ones sit for a day or so. I work it during my lunch break.
Also, if you haven’t tried the morning brew – there are puzzles every day. Including a picdoku – which is sudoku with pictures! 🙂 my favorite is Mary Tobler’s turntable on Monday. Of course the compilation of the daily news is great and these “kids” are witty. It’s worth a try. If you want a link, let me know.
I’ve been doing the NY Times puzzles, which are nice because you can enter and delete the “candidates” electronically. I’ve been populating the whole grid with all the candidates and then go from there. That usually reveals the easier ones. I think the ones that frustrate me the most are probably easy, but I’m missing something. I might just send you a quick note offline!
I’m a fan of both Sudoku and Connections. I’m not aware of any books about Sudoku (lots of paper books with a bunch of games) but there are tips and tricks online (hidden pairs, hidden threes, etc.). I just play and don’t pay much attention to timing.
Yeah, I’m learning that timing isn’t everything! Connections is fun — although I didn’t get a single one of today’s. Sometimes it’s pretty tricky.
I should probably do some Soduku in a – potentially vain – attempt to improve my maths, but I’ve too many ways already to while away time I could use to do something that’s actually on the list of things I want to do. That was a rather inelegantly written and lengthy sentence, so excuse me if you got lost along the way to the end!
I really loved my fifties. I am having trouble loving my sixties. Too many bits not working like they should (or could). Maybe I need to go listen to Joni & Tracy at the Grammys.
I pretend it’s not about math.
So, cancer for me at 43 and then again at 60, so I’m kind of with you that my 50s were better! Although my 60s have brought on some unpleasant aches and pains, I do feel happier not working.