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Nadine Feldman, Author

celebrating strong female characters and whatever else strikes my fancy

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fun

Who Knew? The Joys of Post-50 Life

August 14, 2013 by admin

When I was a kid, many of the adults told me that I was living the best years of my life. My response was, “I sincerely hope not.” Fortunately, I was right. In my experience, my teens and twenties were the low spot, with each subsequent decade more interesting and enjoyable than the last. The 50s, so far, are the best. I say that in spite of hot flashes and the Second Coming of Zits. Yes, every now and then I feel a little creaky, and some nights I don’t sleep so well. Still, here are some of the ways life has changed in the past four or so years:

  1. Surprise, Surprise! Those of you who read my blog and my endless blathering about my garden may not realize that I never got my hands in the dirt until I was 51. I had no idea how much I would fall in love with my garden. Knowing that new passions are always available, no matter what the age, is priceless.
  2. Self-Acceptance Trumps Self-Improvement. The funny thing is, when I stopped pressuring myself to do and be more, it just started to happen. Improvement is fine, but it’s not the goal. I wish I had learned this lesson when I was younger. I would have saved a lot of money on personal growth workshops. Of course, sometimes I still lapse into old habits! I am learning to accept that, too.
  3. Better Yin and Yang Balance. We live in a great little town with lots of nice people that I’m enjoying getting to know better. Friendships are developing, and I’m feeling less “rusty” with my social skills. I’m even starting to give parties, something I never thought I would do. Still, I keep an eye on my schedule to make sure I have enough alone time. August has been a people-filled month, so we’ve scheduled some time away in a few weeks. I’m going to the spa!
  4. Giving Back is Fun. In my younger years, financial problems made it difficult for me to make ends meet, let alone share with others. Without that burden, I am more involved in the community, sharing both funds and time. I’ve learned skills over the years that are needed and appreciated, and it’s a joy to have the freedom to share them.
  5. Process, Not Product. While I’m still a Type A personality, my edges are softening. While I still would like to earn at least a modest living as a writer, I’m content to enjoy the process of writing and honing my skills. I’m not pushing myself to finish books quickly anymore…I go at my own pace, and I’m just happy when I solve a plot problem or come up with a better way to bring what’s in my head to the page.

What’s your favorite decade so far?

Filed Under: gardening, Life Changes, menopause, volunteering, women Tagged With: contentment, fun, garden, gardening, happiness, joy, life changes, lifestyle, post-50, self-acceptance

Friday Random 5

August 9, 2013 by admin

How did it get to be Friday already? Specifically, mid-afternoon on a Friday here in the Pacific Northwest (later for many of you). Thanks to Nancy at A Rural Journal, though, I can offer my Random 5. I’m hoping to be back to a regular blogging routine by September. Have a great weekend!

  1. I have a superpower. It’s the incredible ability to ignore commercials. Hubby will look at me, incensed about some advertisement, and my response is usually, “Huh?” I have no idea what he’s talking about because I shut off my attention. What’s your superpower?
  2. The last few weeks, I’ve been tied up working on the programs for two different theatrical productions. Normally I volunteer on Tuesdays, but I’ve had to put in some long hours lately. Writing material, I can do. Layouts, not so much, though I’m giving it the old college try. Fortunately, this is temporary, as a new person starts September 1, so I get my regular routine back starting…now.
  3. This week I took an exciting next step in my gardening career: I had enough produce to give some away. It wasn’t much, just some plums and tomatoes, but it felt really good.
  4. We’ve had gloom and mist in the mornings all week long. Last night the top of the ferry glided through a cloud, and it looked like a submarine. Unfortunately, I didn’t see it in time to get a good photo, but it was way cool. Trust me. The locals call this month Fogust, and rightly so.
  5. We had our first real party on our deck this past week. Some folks from the neighborhood came over, and we had a great time. Next up: the cast party for Much Ado About Nothing on August 18! I’ve never done much entertaining before, so this is a new adventure for me.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: friday, fun, garden, random, superpowers, theater, theatre

Friday Fun — The Great Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Sculpture Race

November 2, 2012 by admin

We’ve all had a tough week. A little fun won’t take away Sandy’s devastation, but we might as well have some laughs where we can.

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Just for grins, here are some photos from the recent annual Kinetic Sculpture Race, where “cheating is not a right, it’s a privilege.” The first such festival was held here in 1983, making it the third oldest kinetic sculpture festival. Vehicles must be operated by humans (not engines) and prove their ability to travel on land, water, and in mud and sand.

Costumes? This is how we normally dress around here!

. The goal, as I understand it, is not to win, but to come in somewhere in the middle. Just another day in a wacky paradise!

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

The ability to pop a wheelie isn’t required, but if you can, why not?

Crisis at the parade as one sculpture has a flat.

The flowerpot proves that it can float!

It’s hard work passing the water test.

 

Filed Under: fun Tagged With: festivals, fun, kinetic sculpture, Port Townsend, silly, tourism, travel

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