NEXT.......

Where were we?

Oh, yes.  It's still only Friday afternoon!  On the road again headed to Nashville, IN.  About another hour down the road and we were all ready to check in and go eat.  Now there was something -- we never did figure out exactly what -- going on that attracted allot of, um, plain people....  The no make up, long skirted, etc. sort......And the place (actually Columbus, IN) was very large and full up.  Dinner that night was probably the only not fabulous meal.  OK, but not repeatable.

Now we are not going to talk allot about sleeping arrangements -- 3 set-in-their-ways adults in 2 double (not queen, do you believe it?) beds.

Once again, Diane saved the days by traveling equipped.  Brought our own coffee w/maker, snacks and food, wine (ah, yes).  And Beauti, bless her, brought ear plugs, military issue.

Your Queen is an early riser these days.  Beauti is not.  And had an hour time difference.  But she is a trooper.  Plan was mapped out the night before with an alternative, since it might rain.  And it did.  So, no flea market.  Sniff.  But on to Nashville.

Yummy breakfast at The Muddy Boot.  Homemade that a.m. pastries and deserts.  We are coming back there!  Local art on the walls and live music -- for breakfast!  And we certainly wouldn't want you to be bored with this account, so suffice it to say that we walked this little town between raindrops, stopped in little shops, ate and had coffee and walked.  Ended up, after making a loop, at......The Muddy Boot.  Desert to go for later.  Wonderful day even though 2 large tour buses disgorged their passengers into 'our' little town.

Diane did her thing making friends with everyone she met, including the banjo-playing,  overall-clad, grey bearded gentleman outside the Muddy Boot who recommended a tavern for dinner.  Another myohmy.  We'll not tease you here with a detailed description since it will have you gnawing on your 'puter.

Want to add here that these were mostly not your run of the mill tshirt and .......shops, but neat stuff:  Clothing of lace and crochet, jewelry of special things, hand made brooms (2nd or 3rd generation made as you watch) a wonderful yarn shop and we didn't get to the antique stores!

Covered bridges?  Oh yes, we saw some photos.......

Exhausted and full, so ends Saturday.

Stay turned for Sunday.

Your Queen

AND IT BEGINS.....

Well, hmmmmm.  If all birthdays would be half as wonderful as this last one, we would like 2 a year!  My oh my.

First of all, we have always been in favor of birthdays that last several days, or over a week.  Hey.  This one officially started Friday morning by Your Queen being picked up in one of the royal vehicles by Princess Diane.  It was she who orchestrated this 'production'.  And a 'production' it certainly was.

First stop:  Yummy breakfast.  Then on the road whilst Your Queen tried to guess by the direction we headed, at our destination.......  Having previously bemoaned not having anyone to see this particular 'festival' with,  we were beginning to get most joyful as we headed in that direction.....YES!

Down to the region that celebrates the Covered Bridge Festival every year -- south and slightly west of My World.  After a refreshing Starbucks break, we continued south to - ut oh -- veering west.......freeway signs indicating international airport!!!!!  What?  Someone is joining us!!!!!  It can't be.  Ah, contraire.  Beauti is waiting!  Flying in for the weekend.  Oh, my, ohmyohmyohmy.

How Diane coordinated this is truly a wonder.

So we were all back on the road again, heading for 'bridges".  And it's still Friday.

To be Continued.....

OLD

Old:  Having lived for a long time; no longer young.  Belonging only or chiefly to the past; former or previous.  New American Oxford Dictionary

Hmmmm

Old as it pertains to antiques – officially – an item must be 100 years old or older.  Old as it pertains to people?  Depends on your prospective.  If you are 6, old could be 20;  14, old is probably 40; 35, old may be 70.  And so on.

“Middle age” has floated around 40-55.  That makes dead 80-110!  The phrase “3/4 age” has not caught on.

But, dearies, by any of those definitions, The Queen is old.    AAAUUUUUUGGHHH!

Old is physical, mental and emotional.  The last majority of years this Queen was 35 mentally.  This explains the quirkiness.  Emotionally varies between 20-ish and 100 (just guessing).  Physically, oh my.  Some days, 100.

Some of you are probably wondering at this point just how we're going to work in the subject of ‘books’.  I know you were.  Well.  Lately we’ve been noticing written references to ‘old’.  ‘She was a spry 70'.  ‘Thriving in the assisted living atmosphere at just over 70.’  ‘Now that she was over 70, there were frequent little memory lapses.’  Is this, in fact, the accepted opinion?  Harrumph

Not until 65 did we begin to notice physical ‘stuff’ associated with aging (not old).  And it is irritating.  We had been totally convinced that we would be either a) immune or b) dead.  Who knew?  Genetic history supports this opinion.  So.

There are no ‘plans’.  How does one ‘plan’ for something you don’t believe will ever happen?  Now not being maudlin my peeps.  Just honest.  Hint:  Make your bucket list at 50.  That gives you time to actually check some thing off!

So, she restates.  The Queen has finally come to a birthday she doesn’t really want to acknowledge. (Well maybe except for presents.  We love presents!).  But, hey, she’s still here!  Relating to the dictionary definition, but of course.

Gotta go.  This weather isl making my back hurt…..

Your Queen

PS:  Never giving up 'quirkiness'.  

The State of Our World

HERE IN MY WORLD--

there is NO government.  It's a Queenship!  and it doesn't shut down.  and there is no president and no congress and and and

This Queen still watches very little news.  What's the point?  Mess, mess and bigger mess.  Stupid, stupider and stupidest.

And do any of my advisers know if the capitol, federal police are still getting paid?  The guys that greet the veterans to keep them from visiting their own memorials?  The ones that are guarding the gates of the parks?  Keeping us (as in 'we the people' who EMPLOY these idiots) off of 'federal' land and roads (see Wyoming).  Are the people that are putting up those barriers getting paid?  BTW, who bought the barriers?  Ironic that 'our' government should need so many barriers.

This the Queen knows:  just when you think their world is unfixable, it actually gets worse.

From one of the Queen's advisers:  If what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, who let Harry Reid out?

Think we'll go make cookies.

Disgusted

SEASONS

SEASONS


We are trying to get used to the weather changes here in Our World.  Eeeeeeek.

Summer is TERRIBLE.  High heat with matching humidity (95/95 folks)  and does it actually get down (and I use the word loosely) to the mid 70's?

Then there is 'teaser' weather.  A few days of high 60's and low 70's that might even dip to high 40's at night!  Dryer.  And by that I mean humidity at or around 60%.  Forget the teens.  Maybe a horrific thunder storm.  Get out the jeans and light sweaters for morning.  Then -- Surprise!!!!!  80's/90's with a "low" of 70.  Oh, pleeeaassseeeee.

Now the leaves are just beginning to sprout reds and yellows.  That will be a good thing.

Queen sees that her old world is having snow stuff in the mountains...........miss that so.  Actually, miss those big jaggity mountains.....

sigh

PS:  On the chance of ending on a sour note, does anyone in my court understand this new medical/insurance even a little?