P is for People...

Ok, yes, this will date me, but I keep wondering if they should have made a Mutual of Omaha's "Wild Kingdom" about humans.

Explaining the rash outbursts, displays of power, the amazing plumage, mating rituals and how they vary by location, (or not).  Show the tool using capabilities, and how it might help the creature survive.

Jim Fowler could dart one of the herd, and tag and collar it to track its movements.

Or, you know, just give it a hacked cell phone...

***********

For my regular readers, I apologize for not writing much "personal" stuff, I have written most of the A to Z blogs ahead of time.  I am hoping to catch up on everyone's blog on Tuesday, if all goes well, (blog binging?), so I can see what everyone else is doing.  Mostly, I have been on the go, and not near a computer all that much.  (I even have a newsletter that I need to get out, aaaaand, well, I have to actually park tooshy and do it, if it's to get out... eep.)

P is for puttering.

Leisure seems to have changed.

During previous eras, I don't know that there was much in the way of leisure, unless you had some royal something going for you.  Even then, I have a feeling there were things you "had" to do.  Fun was really not relaxing in the truest sense, you could ride a horse, but as a rule, it was to get from point A to point B, not because horse riding was "fun" per se.

Then we started to progress.  We invented machines.  This gave us time!  Especially for women, there was sometimes a bit of time (depending on status) where a bit of something that wasn't a "have to" could be accomplished.  Needlework, like cross stitch and embroidery became popular, especially when "recipe" or "receipt" books with patterns came out.  Knitting was a popular one, as well.

World Wars 1 and 2 had people making things for the war effort, fun was also practical.  You could knit, but you were knitting for the 'boys at the front'.  Get togethers were often for war bond collection, or scrap metal drives.  And because of rationing, you didn't just hop in a rig and go for a drive.

After the wars, the country came into prosperity.  Cars, parties, what have you were more common.  People could "do" things for fun.

Today, I have noticed puttering takes a lot of forms.  Some of my friends bike, some do crafts, or garden, some cook, some play with angry or flappy birds, some read, electronically, or not, and some just seem to lay back and watch the world go by.

I think I shall endeavor to savor "goofing off" as much as I can.  Who's with me?

P. Perspective.

I could consider myself big and powerful.

Then I see this.

I could see myself as small and useless.

Then I see this.

Perspective.

I remember a teacher telling me "it's not what's happening, it's how you react to it."  I have thought, gee, I need to turn into Pollyanna?  Over the years, I have started to understand the idea.  I won't say I am anywhere close to being blissful in all things, (nor do I personally feel you should be), but I think some of my thoughts have become 'better', for lack of a better term. 

I don't want to exercise, it hurts today.

I am happy that Rudee loves to go out, it motivates me, and most of the time, I stop hurting.

My ankle is throbbing and hurting, and I just found another blasted rock in my shoe.

I don't like the pain, but it's nice after 10+ years, to have sensation in that foot.  It's scary when you drop a pin, can't find it, and realize it has embedded itself in your foot, and YOU DIDN'T KNOW!

I am sick of the phone ringing for Husband.

I am happy that he is getting work in this economy.

I am tired of being a weenie, and not being able to heft and haul like I did.

I am not 19 and in Karate class... Concept time, bodies change!  I am also much more able to do and have endurance than what I did, just a year ago.  And who said it was a race, anyway???

I have 5 different things all the same day!

I am glad that so many people want me around, that I am included in projects and groups.

I can't find my blasted sunglasses...

Thank G*d, the sun is finally shining!  And they are right where I left them, just got covered up with a paper.

Husband and I will have to take down this copse of trees this summer.  Right in the middle of the dang blackberries...

Hey, we will be working together.  We will have firewood for ourselves, and others who might need it, and maybe, just possibly, I can get the blackberries thinned enough that picking them won't involve hand to hand combat with a vine!

And then for some nice perspective, for me...

(You knew I had to do that for P, didn't you???)

And see, Mom, I can indeed get through the P blog with no puns.  (Just you wait... Heh, heh, heh...)