A Funny Saturday

So I'm not sure if all of you know I am (was) a figure skater, and I went skating for the first time in about a year today.  I was feeling pretty good (only had the D three times!) and thought it'd be good for me to get back on the ice again.  I forgot that when I stopped skating a year ago, I'd just had my blades sharpened, and you've got to use 'em several times to "break in" the new edges.  I had to stop suddenly by the sideboards and ended up falling flat on my face, totally busting up my left knee, and then skidding into the boards, left knee first!  It is the size of a grapefruit and the color of a plum!

The pain is not nearly as unbearable as Tuesday's gut pain, though!  I did have to succomb to the calling of the ibuprofen, however...Tylenol just doesn't cut it for injuries like that. 

I then cooked a yummy, dairy-free dinner for some friends that included steamed artichokes, roasted garlic with olive oil and French bread, and homemade egg rolls.  I am experimenting with new veggies and just bought a butternut squash.  I used to hate that stuff and haven't tried it in years.

I'm going to see that guy again tonight...that one I was talking about last week.  He called and wants me to go see some music with him.  Don't worry...I'm not that invested anymore!

I hope you all had equally fun days (sans knee injuries!)!

Yeah, Lil, this guy's kind of a dipwad.  I realized it even more last night.  He is 25 but acts like he's about 18.  He knows it, too.  I like his idealism, his zeal for what he does, etc. but he has a lot of growing up to do!  We parted after having a talk about just being friends.  No booty calls here!  I'm definitely not broken-hearted. 

The knee is swollen and painful today but I've been icing it a lot and am just going to take it easy.  No more skating for a little while!

When I was 22, I was dating a 40-year-old violin maker.  We met when my violin needed a repair.  Dated for several months and he ended up proposing on my 23rd birthday.  I thought about it...but ultimately couldn't.  I felt too young to get married at that point.  But I think you're right, Keri - older men are the way to go! 

Well, I am already used to making consessions for Stuart in regards to what we do because he has both a bad back and bad knees. But he messed his first knee up at 18, so it's not like he'd have been whole and healthy at a younger age either. In fact, he's said before that he's glad I know him now as opposed to several years ago when his back was in a lot worse shape and he was in pain all of the time. Still, we do medieval reenacting together and when he can, he fights. When retirement from the field comes, he's looking at moving over into equine activities and archery--which we both can do together. If that ever loses its appeal, then there are always the crafts aspect--in other words, we can keep going to events together, even if we do different things at the events. Both of us like to read and neither of us is very physically active
(although I do like to walk some), so that's helpful as time goes by. I'd be much more devastated if he lost his mind rather than his body.

Believe me, my grandmother and mother have warned me about the go-getting of older men. Funny, my stepfather is 17.5 years my mother's senior and they just got back from several months of traveling and doing missionary work (rebuilding, repairing, etc.) out west. From what I can tell, he kept up with her just fine. In fact, she has fibromyalgia now, so she's actually worse off physically than he is. So you never know what might transpire so that age is rendered meaningless.

A good bet is that if you find someone with a lot of energy and pep, then he will be going and doing even as he gets older. In fact, men married to younger women often push themselves to keep up, meaning they have longer, more fulfilling lives than men who are married to women of the same age who both become sedentary at the same time.

Ever talk to your former love interest, Sarita, now that you are older and wiser?

Sometimes I feel young too, but I don't let it bother me. I usually feel young when it comes to... I don't know... skipping to the mailbox and wooling the dog. When we got some actual, honest-to-goodness WET snow (it's always dry snow in TN) a couple of years ago, I went outside and PLAYED. I ran to the back property just to see my footprints and I made a snowman on the front porch and snow angels on the back porch. Stuart stayed inside and laughed at me.

But I feel very mature when it comes to things like handling money. Which is I suppose all that counts. If you handle your finances and your social interactions like an adult, then everything else can be ignored or even laughed at and enjoyed. I rather like having someone older to consult on things like getting new tires. I've always consulted with my mother before making large decisions, so now I ask Stuart what he thinks. I figure it would be immature of me to not consult someone who is older and has more experience.

Of course, it was very mature of you to recognize that you were not ready for marriage. So many people get married all willy-nilly; they do it because they think society expects it and then get divorced when it doesn't work out because that's what people do too. And I think a lot of people have children because of that too--social and family pressure--not because they are actually interested in raising a child.

So I guess the moral of the story is to know what you want and not be turned aside by trivial things--like the norms you see on television (as if you can call that "normal").

Sarita, you're such a renaissance woman I'm sure you'll meet an equally intelligent and talented guy and you can make beautiful music together... literally, lol.