What Do You Define as Leisure Time?

Ok I could hardly wait to do this post..I had plotted out my day like most women do pretty much the night before. I knew I needed to do a little bit of computer work before I drove my father-in-law to have his second cataract out-patient surgery. I took the book I have been trying to finish since my trip to Washington D.C almost a month ago so I could possibly try to finish it. My mother-in-law was with me and she usually never remembers to bring something to occupy her mind instead of sitting and worrying about how the procedure is going. After about 45 minutes she gazed at her watch and asked "Gee I wonder when they are going to come get me to see him?". I told her it had only been a little while (but I guess it seemed liked forever for her). Shortly after that they called her back and a few moments later she came out saying that I could go get the car to pull to the front.

As I turned the corner to exit the building my father-in-law is walking out the door with a nurse running out after him. Oh I forgot he has a hearing problem and refuses to wear a hearing device. I proceed to tell the nurse "can you please take him in so I can get the car?". She is trying to look at the situation as humorous while I am thinking he could possibly fall on his face because he still has somewhat blurry vision. Needless to say it was like trying to stop a three-ring circus but we managed to stop everyone in their tracks while I speedily got the car. (Thank heavens for handicapped parking plaques).

I managed to get them both out of the car at separate times, which is no small task. Got them inside and proceeded to tell them I had alot to get done at home. By now the first half of my day had ticked by quicker than I wanted.

The rest of my day was as follows:

Answer e-mails and phone calls from clients, stop at the Dollar Store for brooms to do sweeping that I hadn't done over the weekend, do some filing, pay some bills, do a load of laundry, pick up in the yard, plant some herbs, (yes I am on a quest to grow my own veggies and eat healthy, lets see how this one goes!) sweep and vacuum and try and plot tomorrows strategies.

Well it probably wasn't as busy a day as the day before was but it still for me took a measure of focus, to try to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

I happened to watch the episode today on Dr. Phil which was largely about how at home mothers have on average, according to a university sociology professor who I will not call by name in this post because I at first had a name for him that was very nice, approximately 40 hours a week of "leisure" time....Hummmm I thought is this guy from another planet?

After listening further, his definition of leisure time differs greatly from mine.. Leisure in my book is, for instance, reading a book for fun, sitting out in my yard on a sunny day, playing with my dogs, ok you get my drift...Some of his were: Having a root canal (going to the dentist), community work, personal care. I guess it is all in the interpretation but lets just say their were alot of extremely unhappy women in that audience.

I guess if you were to chalk my day up according to this gentlemen my whole day was leisure except for maybe the first couple of hours..and sadly the few minutes I took to watch the episode.

Well back to living my leisurely life, sitting on my lounge, eating my bon-bons and pointing at my royal subjects--yeah right...Well what do you define as leisure time???

The Leprechaun Story

I had a very uneventful St. Patrick's Day. No green beer, and no cornbeef and cabbage. But today on a walk with my daughter she told me a story that topped any celebrating I could possibly have done.

A friend she had told her a story that he claims is totally true. I am glad if it is true that it happened in our small town because I doubt if it had happened anywhere else that it would have been handled in such a kind way. I guess it pays to have compassion and a sense of humor all in one.

Anyway a woman who works at a local retailer was at work on Wednesday when her mentally challenged son called her from home. He is able to stay at home on his own and do the basic daily tasks. He called her on her phone very excited with the news that "He had caught a leprechaun and he had a pot of gold". "That's nice", the woman replied to her son and hung up. After multiple excited calls back to his mom, the woman told her boss that she thought there might be something wrong at home and maybe she should check it out.

When she got home, her son excitedly greeted her at the door with "I caught a leprechaun, he's in my room and he has a pot of gold!".. His mother was a little frightened to see what he had in his room but she proceeded in to his room.

There standing in her son's room was a "little person" on his cellphone holding a bag. It turns out that the person was a Jehovah's Witness going door to door delivering his message.

Anywhere else the police would have been called, the young man probably would have been arrested but apparently the little person was somewhat understanding of the situation.

It have to admit it made me laugh...

Mrs. Goalder Goes to Washington

Well the last couple weeks have been like I would imagine the feeling of being in the eye of a tornado. I often complain of being way to busy or never having enough time for down time, but yet my down time from Thursday of last week to Tuesday of this was anything but down time.Several months ago, my friend Linda asked if I would like to accompany her and her granddaughter to Washington D.C. for the Alzheimer's Summit. She has taken her two oldest grand kids so that they can experience what some would term something only for "old people" but nothing can be far from the truth. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's is quickly climbing the ladder of the major diseases, two quickly really. We had the opportunity to visit our Missouri Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill and also our Congressman for our area, Ike Skelton. All seemed really eager to support the Alzheimer's causes. With this being a busy "health reform" year I think they were probably a little more receptive than usual but you have to take what you can get and hope they are true to their words.

With my 16 years of past civil service experience in California it brought back alot of memories from dealing with government officials. To be honest alot hasn't changed, unfortunately, and I am really not sure if it ever really will but you have to keep trying over and over again. Maybe if they can know you by name like our Congress does my friend Linda, she must be doing something right. Sometimes the form letters in response to your letters or e-mails just are not enough, a face to face speaks volumes and we did with approximately 650 Alzheimer's advocates speaking to their representatives.

At least we were able to have some fun time too. I have only been in D.C. once on business with David and we were never able to be tourists. What an experience it was. People who voice their opinions about Washington without being their truly don't have any idea what a powerful feeling the city gives. To visit all that we did:

The Lincoln Memorial-It actually brought a tear to my eye to stand and look at the massive monument and see a man that was one of many who brought our country through some difficult times that people all over our country are still affected by.

Washington Memorial-Something I learned it took 82 years to build.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial-That long, black wall seemed to go for miles. 58,000 names of those that sacrificed so much and still those living that are paying the price for fighting for our country.

The World War II was the most beautiful of all the memorials and holds a special place in my heart.

Smithsonian-Hard to hit all of them but the Ruby Slippers from Wizard of Oz and Brian Boitano's Gold medal skates were worth it.

I could go on and on and I think my family has already gotten tired of the stories so far but all I can say is every American should experience a trip their. I truly think it means more if you are a mature adult who enjoys history but hopefully everyone can bring away something from an experience like I had. The weather was the most beautiful 5 days that we had all winter so we were pumped with enough Vitamin D to last us a few days.

Oh and I can't forget that the Omni Shoreham Hotel where we stayed was a historical significance also. The Beatles first performed their when they came to the US in 1964, several presidents have had their inaugural balls their and the 8th Floor Ghost Suite was four flights above our room. We did have some strange occurrence's happen, the non-believers can think what they want but with a town full of history you have to expect a few strange happenings here and their.

Walking through the Petersen House (where Lincoln died) was enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck (something that happened a couple times on this trip) and the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth (no it is no relation!!) was another experience. I know I am missing some of my experiences but their was just to many.

I will always be a city girl at heart and the electricity that a large city provides helped to pump me up for a while. To coin a phrase from an Orange County Housewife "my tank was depleted and now my tank is full for a little while" until I get the urge to visit another big city.