Today was a landscape demo and then we had to paint one of two photos in 10 minutes. I think the idea was to see what choices people make with little time to think.
I was the only person in the class who chose the stock photo of a sun with visible rays bursting through a dark forest. I thought…what the heck? I’ll give it a shot. (Everyone else chose a more natural image of a forest that the teacher had taken herself.)
This wasn’t the exact stock photo, but you get the idea:
Image from Pexels
The result isn’t great, but I learned about a few techniques in the process.
Some of the ladies bugged me today. The ones that already knew each other before the class started tend to chat constantly, even when the teacher is talking. Two of them speak so loudly to each other that everyone can hear their entire conversation. They lack self-awareness.
I got all the way dressed up for a very elegant Boston wedding and had a wonderful time.
My tan is real (from outdoor swimming) and my hair is its natural color. I’ve never done Botox or had any cosmetic surgery (not that I’m ruling it out). But, in the spirit of the many women sharing “This is 60” pics on social media, I decided to share a few here on my blog.
This is 60, with a fun “up do” by a local stylist who took me at the last minute when the humidity reached about 85%.
I’m lucky that the grey is pretty much just around my temples now. Embracing truly grey hair is going to be a challenge. I was even feeling good about taking pics with much younger, gorgeous women.I’m fully indulging my “Gilded Age” fantasies here. (Is anyone else watching that series on Max?) Now, if John Singer Sargent could just come back to life and paint my portrait, my fantasy would be complete.
Occasionally women embarrass me by doing things that seem to play into stereotypes about us. The gold digger, the gossip, the busybody, etc.
Typically I expect better of women than men, especially ones that have been around for six decades or more. They should know what truly matters in life by our age. They should be using their outgoing personalities and superior verbal skills to bring people together, rather than bickering about nonsense.
In my role as an Executive Team member of my church (thankfully ending soon!), I have been unwillingly cc’d on waaaay too many emails this year.
One recent exchange:
Woman 1:
“overkill”
Woman 2:
“rude” “rash” “confrontational” “provocative”
Woman 1:
“Rants” “put downs” “micromanager”
Result:
Awkwardness for the EIGHT people cc’d on the conversation
Relationship effectively ended between the two women
Good GAWD ladies!
This is not how email should be used!
And if I told you what they were arguing about, you would die about how stupid and minor it is.
Honestly, it reminds me of my role as Mrs. Squires in my high school’s production of The Music Man. Here’s a professional version of our big number when all the self-important hens in the town get together to gossip and complain (aka “pick a little, talk a little”):
🤣
And just for fun, here’s me on stage in my high school’s 1983 production of The Music Man:
OK, I’ve deactivated my Facebook as a first step in trying not to care as much about the election. I’ve never done that before, but apparently it can be reactivated easily. I was just seeing way too many upsetting posts, particularly from feminist groups documenting the horrors that women in the Trump Abortion Ban States are enduring.
Also, I’m done reading The Washington Post. My husband reads it daily, so we won’t cancel it, but honestly, fuck Jeff Bezos. I’m so tired of these asshole white male billionaires and their outsized influence. And while I’m at it, fuck Joe Rogan too. Did you know that little shit is only 5’7”? I am taller than Joe Rogan. And of course, it goes without saying…FUCK ELON MUSK.
Aaaah, now that that’s off my chest…
Back to my efforts to not care about anything other than my own inner circle.
I have some fun things to look forward to:
-Luncheon today: I’m attending a ladies lunch this afternoon. (Actually, I think there’ll be one man there, but he’s cool.) The guests are all church friends of mine so there is absolutely no chance that any of them are Trumpers.
-Babysitting next weekend: My husband and I are going to babysit our adorable, perfect infant granddaughter for a few hours next weekend! I cannot wait to see that little angel again. I can already tell that having grandchildren is going to the absolute best part of being 60+.
-Book group meeting next week: I get to see one of my favorite groups of women. I am so fortunate to have this small group of book-loving friends with whom I can be completely open and always feel supported. (We are reading Solito by Javier Zamora this month and I need to finish it this weekend.)
Also, I had a realization that if Trump wins the election, I’m probably going to seek out a paid position (perhaps a part-time one). I’m going to need something else to focus on, other than the news and volunteering for lost causes. And I think I can still make some decent money in my field, which would mean more resources for the people I love.
It’s JUST. I try not to use it, but I still do. Women tend to use it – a lot. It’s a way to soften the edges. To try not to seem too pushy. To diminish our actual wants/needs/requirements.
“Just calling”
“Just following up”
“Just circling back”
“Just wanted to know”
“Just wondering”
Instead of saying what we really mean:
(Please) return my call
(Please) answer my e-mail
(Please) do what you said you would do
(Please) tell me
(Please) keep me informed
Just don’t use Just anymore—-ok? Was that too pushy?
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