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I have been telling myself, ever since I turned 70 in October, that I would start to keep a journal on what I do .  Well, I guess today is the time for me to start.  I just returned from the Dr. (who I see every month) and everything is in the status quo catergory.  I'm not getting any better, but I am not getter any worse.  To let you know, I have a couple of problems with my spine.  One is degenerative disc disease and the other is stenosis of the entire spine.  As we age, degenerative disc disease is part of the getting old syndrome.  (For a lot of seniors anyway).  Stenosis is one that is not common to aging but affects people of all ages.  I have been to many Drs' including neurosurgeons and there is really nothing to be done but accept the fact  that I have it and learn to live with it.  I do, so it really doesn't stop me from doing most things except most things physical.  I have a small dog Valentine, a rat terrier, that I walk a couple of times every day.  That is my exercise.  Well most anyway.  Being single, I still have to clean my apt., wash clothes, cook and the two worst things in the world I hate to do and thats cleaning the bathroom and changing and making my bed.  To many of you might think I'm a nut when I say that, but it really is difficult with a bad back.  I have a neat little sign behind the toilet that reads, " Please sit to pee, you men.  I don't like cleaning up your misses"

I am now taking my time to start my own web site.  So far, I have the style set that I want to use but I'll be darned if I can come up with a name for it.  I also have an idea for the content, but not really sure yet if that is the venue I really want or if it would attract enough readers.  Maybe someone who reads this journal would offer some suggestions. I also participate in advocacy groups that help enable the handicapped, senior citizens and the less fortunate.  For the past 8 years, I have been President of the Raymond Manor Tenants Association.  Its been a challenge because our membership covers many people with different backgrounds, opinions and temperaments.  The latter being the hardest hurdle to get over.  As with any community, you have a lot of different personalities and I have had to try to settle a lot of the problems with using good old common sense and sitting the people down, usually two at a time, and then try to settle the problem.  Its effective about 95% of the time but I do have some failures.  But thats life.

Well, this is my start.  I will continue to update this journal as often as I can.  Expect me to comment on just about anything including politics.  I am an Independent, but have leanings to the Democratic Party.  I don't always vote for a democrate, i vote for the person who reflects my point of view.  Even in my congressional district, we have a democratic congressman that I will vote against when he runs again.  I voted Libertarian the last cycle, even tho I know she wouldn't win, but as a protest vote against the encumbent.

Thanksgiving day:  November 26, 2009

Today is the day for reflection on the years past and enjoy the holiday with family and friends. I , will use the day to add to my journal, work on my web site and enjoy the holiday with a few phone calls to friends and family and the solitude of being alone, giving me time to reflect on the past year.  It wasn't all that great.  I would call it a bummer year.  My sister passed away last year and her husband died a couple of months ago.  Two very close friends of mine, two sisters, passed away a month ago.  Anne was the first and her sister Carolyn a few weeks later.  My Nephew was treated for colon cancer 2 years ago, and by all the tests was free.  But two months ago, he was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Surgery was done and then back on chemo-therapy.  He is 49 years old.  So with the sorrow over the past year I like to reflect on their relationship with me and the moments we cherished so much.  My photo albums are out and am having a good time going over them.  I even discovered some pictures I forgot that I had.  One is a picture of me, when I was about 10 years old, playing with pet crow that we had.  Yes, a crow (raven).  We had found him/her as a baby and raised it like a pet.  It got along with the dog we owned and they usually ate together.  That bird loved dog food.  It would even ride in the car. Anyway, when I get some of the pictures scanned I will add to my photo album.

Yesterday, I took my companion Valentine to the beach.  It wasn't raining but it was overcast and kinda chilly.  I live only a 20 minute drive to the Pacific Ocean and the beaches.  The dog loves to romp in the sand and it saves me from having to walk her all over town.

There really hasn't been anything interesting to report for the last few days because it has been raining with large gusts of wind so I have just been staying inside, have the fireplace going, and just relaxing.

I wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving.  Injoy the day.