I wanted to know ow much exercise a woman my age, 79, needed to do to stay fit and healthy. So, of course I asked the internet AKA AI. “Older adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. Or they could get an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity.”

Suggestions include:

1. Mow the lawn or rake the leaves. And fire our wonderful gardener? No way. We love Raoul.

2. Learn a new dance. I am learning to tap dance, so this is a big time YES.

3. Walk to the store. I did say that when the new Dollar Tree opened, I was going to walk there and back. It’s only a 3-mile trek and very doable, so that will happen! Eventually. One day. Soon.

4. Hike a trail. Wednesdays, weather permitted.

5. Do active forms of yoga (such as Vinyasa or power yoga). Never a yoga gal, much prefer Pilates.

6. Ride a bike inside or outside. Don’t like the bike solely because the seat is always uncomfortable. Ouch.

7. Join a water aerobics class. Unless I’m wearing a cap, the water makes my hair frizz.

Guess I’m sticking with my Treadmill and rower.

 

You Don't Stop Working Out When You Get Old.

During Covid I said good-bye to the gym and hello to transforming my craft studio affectionally called– The Beehive - into a backyard gym.

I replaced my large craft table with a treadmill, and my many storage containers stuffed with crafting misc. for a rowing machine. Then I filled the 10’x12’ room with things I love. My Frida Kahlo shrine, my RBG collection and a half dozen photos of my daughter Cassandra. Alexa took up residence in The Beehive for non-stop music and with 4 windows and a glass panel door, I never feel claustrophobic.

IMO the 5 best things about having a home gym are –

1. Wearing old, tattered gym clothes. Nobody sees, nobody cares.

2. Singing out-loud with Alexa. Current favorite duet is with Frank Sinatra – NY, NY.

3. Not having to store my purse in a locker. 

4. Not having to tell the front desk that I forgot my locker code. Again.  

5. Not having to see mature ladies exercising like they are teenagers, wearing make-up and Lululemon gym clothes.

 You Get Old When You Stop Working Out.

 

Monday, Monday 

So good to me

I try and workout 5 times a week. One hour on the Treadmill while watching a movie, and then 15 minutes on the Rower listening to music.

Last Month, when we had that horrendous rainstorm, I asked Alexa to play songs about rain. My favorite has to be “Singing in the Rain” by Gene Kelley. Although, I also love Umbrella by Rhianna and of course “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele. And wait, what about Barbra Streisand and "Don't Rain on My Parade" and then I can't forget "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" by B.J. Thomas.  Okay, so maybe I don't have just one favorite.

Meanwhile, back to the story. The 15 minutes flew by, and in what must have been a delusional moment, I decided to make every Monday on the rower a themed music workout. Great idea, yeah?

Just checked the calendar. Uh oh, there’s a problem here. It seems there are 44 Mondays left in 2026. Change of plans. Perhaps one Monday every month? That's only 9 themes. Yes, very doable.

April's theme is going to be New York, featuring music by Sting "Englishman in New York", Frank Sinatra, "New York, New York", and Bruce Springsteen, "New York State of Mind".

May is Peace, June is California, June is...

 Book Reviews

I used to be a various reader. Now I find that when I read, I either get tired or my eyes burn. It’s official, old age and dry eyes have arrived.

Book #1 – 107 Days

I love Kamala and was a volunteer for her first and second Presidential campaign. I was deeply shattered when she lost, but I still proudly wear her Kamala for President t-shirt.

Having said that, I was a bit disappointed with her book. It read like excerpts from a day planner. I wish she had added more personal tidbits.

Book #2 – Raising Hare

I found this non-fiction book an easy read. It’s a story about a woman in England who finds a lost baby Hare. She never gave the Hare a name, because her goal was for the Hare to live in the wild and not end up as a pet. Her connection with the Hare opened her heart to the wonders of nature – a wonderful lesson for all of us.

Book #3 - The Other Bennet Sister

I recently read about an upcoming BBC series called The Other Benett Sister. Since I couldn’t see the series unless I was transported to England, (Dr. No, you out there??) I immediately purchased the book on Kindle.

Since I love all things Pride and Prejudice, I expected to also love this book. And, for the first 100 pages or so I couldn’t put my kindle down. And then things changed. It became more a romance novel than a Jane Austen novel. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Lifetime movies or romance novels.

Onto Book #4

 

To return or not to return, that is the question:

I’m definitely out of the loop. Until recently I had never heard of the Shopping Cart theory. Developed in 2020, the author of this theory claims the humble shopping cart is a way to judge one’s moral character. Who knew?

I’m not saying I’m better than other people, but even if I have frozen food in the car, and it's 100+ outside, I take the time to return the cart. Where I shop, I rarely see a lonely cart. So, do people who shop at TJ’s and Sprouts have better morals? 

IMHO I'd wager that folks who regularly don’t return carts feel entitled. They figure someone gets paid to return the carts from the parking lot to the store, so why should they have to do that person’s job. Maybe so, but they are missing something important. That good feeling one gets when they return the cart. It's like finding something a stranger dropped - like a wallet or a phone - and handing it the store manager. You don't get a thank you, but you know you have done the right thing.

Okay, I get it. It is moral character. 

 

Ding Dong Ditch

This past Friday at around 9:00PM, Tony and I were snuggled in bed watching The Forsythe Saga on Netflix. Since all the lights in the house were out, a passerby would probably think we were asleep.

All of the sudden, we heard loud banging at our front door. Really hard and furious, which scared the bejesus out of me. Tony ran to the door, opened it and saw 4 young people running down the street. I grabbed the phone thinking I might need to call 911, but they didn’t return.

We had no idea what was going on, so I had no choice but to ask AI. It seems we had been the subject of Knock, Knock, Ginger, Ding Dong Ditch. Historians believe this prank started in England in the 1800's. As it spread across the globe, it birthed additional names such as Runaway Knock, Runaway Ring Doorbell Ditch and Doorbell Dixie.

I have absolutely no idea how it got to Canoga Park, but it's here to stay like a nasty bug. I'm thinking about putting a sign on our door. Do Not Knock Unless You Are From Publishers Clearing House. Think it might work?

Luscious Lemon 

Since the late 1970's I have been a loyal Trader Joe's customer. One lesson I learned over the years is if you love a product they carry, buy in quantity. It's all about the price. If they cannot get a store product at a good price, they will stop carrying it. That is why I bought 3 boxes of my absolute favorite pasta, pictured above.

I searched the internet and found the easiest sauce recipe that I promise you, is restaurant quality. 

1. Cook pasta in salted water. When cooked, drain, but SAVE 1/2 cup of pasta water.

2. In a large skillet melt 2 tbsp butter, add 1 tbsp minced garlic and cook for a minute or two. Do NOT burn the garlic.

3. Add the cooked pasta, the saved water, 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese and a large handful or two of freshly torn spinach. STIR after adding each ingredient.

4. Add the juice of half of a lemon. STIR. Add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. STIR. 

5. Top with a bit of lemon zest and/or freshly ground pepper.

6. Serve and Buon Appetito!