Getting Old!

I'm pretty tired tonight.  I had a hard day at the library, where I volunteer once a week for the ongoing Book Sale.  There were many, many boxes and bags of book donations that came in during the week, and another half a dozen while I was there.  I managed to plough through most of them, but didn't get as much done as I would have liked to do.  I just don't have the energy any more.

It bothers me that I have slowed down as much as I have, and I don't know what to attribute it to, although perhaps it has to do with having had breast cancer in 2007.  The treatment for it was chemotherapy, mastectomy, radiation, and Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody infusion treatment for a year.  I started having reconstruction surgeries in April 2009, and have had several, and will have a final one for liposuction contouring on June 30th.  It just seems to me that I've really aged over the past couple of years.  I also have a lot of arthritis throughout my body, especially in my knees, and that has slowed me down a lot.  I take Aleve, but not regularly, and it helps a lot.

I think maybe know I need to get back into exercise again.  I used to go to the pool twice a week for water aerobics, but I don't any more.  I've given up that membership.  I have a treadmill and that's where I have to begin.  I also have several sets of dumbbell weights, and those may help in strength training.  The other thing I like to do is to go for walks, so I may start going to a local park to take walks.  I just know I need to do something, because I sure don't like feeling this way.  At least I've managed to lose a few pounds, maybe 5-7, by cutting back on portions and making better food choices.  I need to continue to lose, although it's very hard to do.  I know all the things I need to do - it's just following through that is the key.

Generous Donors

I'm a pooped puppy tonight.  I went to the library today (where I volunteer weekly for the book sale) and could hardly believe the huge number of crates and boxes that had been donated and needed to be processed.  Holy cow!  Seemed like hundreds of books, and remarkably, they had most all been brought in by one patron, and were nearly all brand new or in nearly new condition.  Both hard back and paper back books, mostly fiction, along with a couple of boxes of VHS tapes.  Amazing.  I think sometimes people can't pass up buying new books the way I can't pass up a yard sale.  I dove into them and before I left, it was all put away and processed, date stamped, categorized, and alphabetized out on the sale shelves.  Many of the new books were held back to replace the library's copies when they get ratty, and it will save a lot of money in purchases.

In addition to paperbacks and hard backs, people donate VHS tapes, video DVD's, music CD's, magazines, and audio books - often times still unopened.  Even current software CD's.  All in all, it's good for the community to be able to get inexpensive library materials in hard times, it's recycling and good for the planet, and it brings in extra money to the library.  Everybody wins!

My Birdhouse!

Isn't this sweet?  I was given this birdhouse as a Volunteer Appreciation Gift at the local library where I volunteer.  It was hand painted by Heather Owings, the staff volunteer coordinator.  It also has been coated with a sealer so that it can be used outdoors without weather damage.  I think she did a lovely job.  Every one of the volunteers was given their selection from different styles and colors.  Just the perfect gift in the month of April.  I love it!

Library Day

Today was Volunteer Day at the Library, and I was surprised by a couple of thank you gifts that were specially made for every one of the volunteers.  There were hand painted bird houses in a multitude of designs and color selections.  The one I chose was green and violet with hand painted flowers all along the roof.  It's adorable!  In addition to that, there was a special packet of hummingbird-attracting flower seeds and a handwritten thank you card.  How nice!!

Tonight I have to finish a project I'm making for Cathy for her birthday tomorrow.  I'm pretty pleased with how it's turning out.  It's an assemblage art bird made with various metal pieces in a shadow box.  First time I've ever tried anything like this.  Doesn't sound very good - I'll have to post a photo when I finish with it.  So I'd better get to it ...

Later ... So what do you think?  Do you like it?

Volunteer Day

If it's Thursday, it must be library volunteering day. Spent 5 1/2 hours working on the Book Sale, my weekly job at the Finksburg Library. Since we were on vacation last week, I wasn't there, and there was a pretty big mess to tend to. But I love it. Sometimes there are unusual donations that come in, but today's lot wasn't too remarkable. It's an interesting job, and I look forward to it every week. Nice people, I feel as if I'm performing a necessary service, and I find new books to read all the time. I usually work through without taking a lunch, just have a trail mix bar or apple, but I scored a leftover turkey sandwich and potato salad from last night's business meeting at the library. Plus, snickerdoodle cookies for dessert. How cool is that?

Early Tuesday

Off to the library this morning in Westminster. I need to be back by 1:00 for an appointment with Jim's computer guru. Oi! My mind is going in too many directions to focus. Waiting for the coffee to kick in.