Camera Critters and Pet Pride - A Nice Dog in San Francisco's Washington Square - August 14, 2010

Camera Critters and Pet Pride

 A Nice Dog in San Francisco's Washington Square

 August 14, 2010

A friend and I were taking a shortcut through San Francisco's Washington Square on Thursday afternoon, en route to see our favorite jazz diva perform at a local North Beach cafe.  People were out in droves to enjoy the beautiful sunny day.  One young man was lazily giving his dog a workout.  He was stretched out on the grass, tossing a ball for his dog who raced happily after it, bringing it dutifully back to his master.  After about fifteen minutes of this, the young man got up, picked up the leash, and the dog trotted after him, panting from his exercise!

I am participating in Camera Critters and Pet Pride - check out the sites and join in!

Extinguish My Fire - Magpie Tales #23 - Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Extinguish My Fire - Magpie Tales #23 - Tuesday, July 20, 2010

My head is full of torrid thoughts,

That never let me sleep,

Just when I find I'm dozing off,

Unbidden, in they creep.

I feel your lips caress my neck,

Your tongue soft on my breast,

I tremble, at the memories,

Of the things that you do best.

Your deeply probing kisses,

Always make me throb inside,

Until our passionate coupling,

Cannot be denied.

I arch my back to meet you,

And match your every thrust,

Enjoying every minute,

With unabandoned lust.

Here's to much more sex,

And far less treadmill time,

I think I like this exercise,

For a body more sublime.

Carmen Henesy

 

Copyright (c) 2010 by Carmen Henesy

All rights reserved

I am participating in Willow's Magpie Tales

Saturday Thoughts, 5-22-10

I am so excited to finally have "Life's Journey" done.  It is already available at the createspace store ( https://www.createspace.com/3439758  )  and I'm told that it will be on Amazon by the first of June.  Now I can focus on some other tasks that have been woefully neglected, what with Alex's wedding and finalizing my book.  At the top of my list are goals to go through the vast amount of papers that I've accumulated over the past ten years ( I finally bought a shredder ) and get rid of those that I don't need and to clear out closets and to clean out the garage.  There is no question that a move to smaller quarters is imminent, perhaps in the next few months, and this is long overdue. 

To say that I am a pack rat, a term bestowed on me by my son, Jeremy, is true.  I have boxes of forensic articles that I hesitate to put in the garbage can.  In reality, I don't think I will return to actively work in nursing but a part of me hates to part with this wealth of resource material "just

in case."  It is my connection to a life that meant - and still does - so much to me.  As I take down each notebook, memories of the conference attended, assail me and I recall the late nights, sitting up till the wee small hours, sipping a glass of wine, involved in heated debate with colleagues, over the merits of one digital camera over the other and other similiar topics.  Folders with grade school drawings by each of my sons tug at my heart strings.  Yet, when I ask if they would like to keep any of these things, they look at me scornfully, with no sentiment whatsoever and say to me, "Mom, toss it!"

I've gone through hundreds of envelopes of photographs, from the past twenty years, and easily disposed of half of them.  Anything blurry gets dumped as do meaningless faces from all my cruises, tablemates I don't even remember, double prints that I always meant to send to people, now I don't even remember who the people are!  I still have more that I need to clear out.  My trash cans are getting filled with my life...or so it feels.

I've tossed textbooks from my nursing school days, over 45 years ago.  I kept one medical surgical nursing book, just for the the heck of it, even though the procedures in it are so obsolete.  The treatments we did back then are not even correct anymore.  Some, we've learned, actually did harm, rather than good, to patients!

I hung up all the paraphanalia that was on my treadmill so now there is no excuse not to get started and to try to lose some weight.  I want to fit into some of my nice clothes.  Then I can get rid of some of the clothes in my closet.  I have, at least, four different sizes.

Here's a photo of me, as I exercised today. 

G Is For "Give Me Time" - Alphabe Thursday, 3-4-10

I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday!

Check it out at Jenny Matlock...off on a tangent, Alphabe-Thursday and join in the fun!

 

Give Me Time

 

Just give me time, is my refrain,

I know I'll get it done,

But then I put off one more task,

In lieu of something fun!

Just give me time, I tell my boys,

And solemnly profess,

I'll tackle years of clutter,

And get rid of all that mess.

Just give me time, I'll exercise,

And be svelte once again,

That's my weekly mantra,

I'll start, I know, but when?

Just give me time, I'll take a class,

To help enrich my mind,

Perhaps that's what I need,

To escape from this old grind!

Just give me time, I'd like to try

To learn to salsa dance,

Then I'll try the tango,

And I'll look for new romance.

 Just give me time, I always say,

Alas, my time's run out!

I'd better get a move on,

The time is now, no doubt!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2008 by Carmen Henesy All rights reserved

Exercise - Where Have All the Endorphins Gone?

Many of you have heard me talk about Jeremy, my 25-year-old, who graduated with a degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.  He's a bright handsome young man who was a high school football and track star.  In college, he was a decathlete, both at the College of San Mateo and Cal Poly.  Needless to say, he's tall and lean and in great shape, after years of hurdles and leaping over poles, running, lifting weights and the like.  Lo and behold, he returns home, takes one look at his ancient, overweight, sedentary mother and begins to seriously take me to task about my health.  Briefly, he had me going to the track at Skyline College, with my walker, and, huffing and puffing, I'd do a mile while he ran five.  Then he'd have me on the ground, while I did the exercises he requested.  Now, I know that Jeremy really has my best interests at heart and he wants me to live to a ripe old age in the best of health - but I have to get myself motivated first - and I guess I'm not yet.

I've read dozens of articles that talk about endorphin release and the related feelings of euphoria that happen with exercise.  I just never seem to reach that state!  It is well documented that exercise helps people cope with mild depression more easily, especially as people age.  It even creates new neurons in the brain!  So I know I need to get off my duff, spend less time at the computer and more on the treadmill which is less than three feet from me as I type!  Jeremy isn't even an ogre.  He's asking me to get on for four ten minute sessions a day.  

I've started and, for the last three days, I've done it...but, I have to admit, it doesn't take much to lure me from my committment.  In the meantime, I've found some cute cards to send to Jeremy.  I hope he still has a sense of humor!!

Shannon Martin, Girl Designer at Madison Park Greetings

Design & Artwork by Tony Cresswell, Published in the UK by urban graphic ltd

Random Thoughts, a division of Mina Lee Studio

My First Poem of 2010

My First Poem of 2010

The new year came,

Without a roar,

It crept in quietly,

Through my back door.

I sat alone,

In contemplation,

But didn't feel,

The least frustration!

Armed with chocolate,

And a lovely wine,

I thought about,

This life of mine.

At sixty-five,

I'm winding down,

I accepted that,

Without a frown.

The years gone by,

Some bad, some great,

Don't matter now,

I've a new, clean slate!

I've decided to set,

A goal or two,

But with resolutions,

I'm finally through.

I'm going to enjoy,

The year ahead.

I won't allow myself,

To live in dread.

I'll eat the things,

That give me delight,

Even if I take,

Just a single bite!

I might exercise,

If I feel inclined,

But I won't allow it,

To become a grind!

I need to hug,

My grown sons more,

For they're the men,

I most adore.

I hope I'll travel,

To parts unknown,

I don't even mind,

If I journey alone.

I hope to blog,

On a daily basis,

That internet lifeline,

Is my oasis.

Most of all,

When this year's done,

I hope I'm around,

For another one!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright © 2010 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved

Clothes

It was a very long and tedious journey back to San Francisco.  I said goodbye to my mother about 5:15PM yesterday and drove to my friend, Luther's, home to drop off the truck he had so generously lent me during my stay in Columbus ( he and Beth are off on a New York holiday.  There, I said farewell to his lovely daughter, Jennifer, who had given me a second outstanding massage on Tuesday, and made my way to the Muscogee County Municipal Airport, compliments of Tommy Wommack, friend of the Stanton's ( who has become my friend in the past week  - he may not feel that way anymore after lugging my immensely heavy suitcases! ).  My hometown airport was almost deserted - no police officers shooing you away from the front curb, hardly any passengers milling about and, certainly, no skycaps to assist with luggage.  Dear Tommy, ever the hero, hoisted those bags yet again!  After an hour's wait on the tarmac, we finally set off into heavy thunderclouds for the short flight to Atlanta.  I made my next connection with ease, to a full flight, where I was smashed against the window in a three seat row with a sweet baby who cried intermittently.  I am an aisle person so I was miserable being hemmed in.  But, at long last, the trip ended and my oldest son, Shawn, nobly came to SFO to fetch his mom.


I still have some final photos of Columbus to post and the long overdue Europe birthday pictures  which now seems an eternity ago.


In the meantime, here's one of my favorite poems.

Clothes

I'm a girl of big proportions,
So I hate to shop at all,
The clothes they make to fit me,
Are the worst things in the mall.

In my youth, I was much different,
Slim and quite the girl,
I wore the cutest outfits,
Which gave the guys a whirl!

Now I look for baggy clothes,
That hide my ample frame,
I can't wear stylish outfits,
So i hang my head in shame.

I look at sexy lingerie,
And think of way back when,
When Victoria had no secret,
I was really thin.

My sons encourage exercise,
And tell me not to eat,
They say that if I listen,
One day I'll see my feet!

Now I shop for earrings,
Since whether thin or fat,
They will always fit me,
Thank my lucky stars for that

Carmen Henesy 


Copyright © 2008 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved