The hanging plants that I get every year – scaevola. I love the flowers, but even more importantly, they last from spring to the first frost. So I don’t have to invest in more flowers if spring blossoms die out.
Today is sunny. Thank goodness. Yesterday was very cloudy and gray and rather depressing. Both Don and I ran errands – he in the morning, me in the afternoon. I found it all exhausting. I went to another nursery south of us where I get my mulch. I also dropped into Barnes & Noble to buy a couple of magazines (it was deserted) and then quickly into Michael’s to grab a couple of items. All three stores are within a hundred feet of each other. Just down the street is Target and a new BJs (our Costco equivalent) which just opened this year. I plan on joining BJs but I didn’t have it in me to do it yesterday. Anyway, that was the first time I visited that area in over a year!
Don’s errand involved this:
He got his first haircut that didn’t require my services, thank heavens. His hair was really long and he looks so much lighter (and younger) this way. Whoo hoo! His stylist’s salon (she owns it) requires masks, they take your temperature before you come in – they have a good protocol in place.
Right after I finish this, we have to tape two auditions. Then I’ll go outside and start sowing seeds.
Thanks so much for your comments on yesterday’s post! I read many of them to Don. He is becoming more comfortable with the knowledge that he is much more of an introvert than we thought. We are both in the theater. We have spent our lives surrounded by lots of people, lots of activity, with people who are ‘on’ much of the time. We have been those people who are ‘on,’ as we’re both performers at heart. Every day and night involved rehearsals and performances and audiences and crew members and required so much energy and so much social interaction – constantly. And we’ve been doing it for over 50 years. Yes, it’s wonderful and stimulating and we both dealt with it much more easily when we were younger and full of piss and vinegar. Both of us are known for being funny. And we are. We’re also witty. So we can juggle that kind of repartee with the best of them. But being on all the time takes its toll.
Now? Quiet. Peace. Working on our terms. We talked about it again this morning. Where do we draw the line going forward?
For those of you who are introverts: There is nothing ‘wrong’ with you. You don’t have to apologize for anything. If someone else doesn’t get it, that’s his/her problem, not yours. You set your boundaries and if those boundaries are scoffed at…don’t let yourself feel one iota of guilt. I say this to myself as much as to you.
If you haven’t read all the comments, I urge you to.
I’m so happy you’re here.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
Don looks very handsome!
I agree there is nothing wrong with being introverted.
I have always wanted to be an extrovert and felt there was something “wrong” with me for years.
I finally accepted that it’s who I am and those extremely social, busy people are missing out on the peace and solitude we introverts enjoy.
We are making a greenhouse run today. It has been very cold here, freeze advisories the last couple nights, highs in the 50’s. I am happy to report that my pansies look great! I love pansies and you inspired me to plant some. I don’t know why I waited so long!
Stay safe
Glad to hear your pansies are doing well, Marilyn! They’re happy flowers.
Stay safe!
Loving those photos of the beauty of your place. An amazing trunk of the tree next to the porch – the carved out hole in the base looks like something from a fairy tale.
I do need to go read some more of the comments, Claudia. You opened a real can of worms with all of us. I really appreciated the opportunity for all of us introverts to open up. Loved what I’ve read so far. Why, if so introverted, be so drawn to performing arts? Eternal question in my life.
Great look, Don. Merde on the auditions!!
I’ve always been somewhat fascinated when reading that so many stand-up comedians suffer from clinical depression. A study in opposites.
More people in the performing arts are introverted than you could imagine!
Stay safe, Martha!
Hi Claudia, I love your hanging basket! Must look for some scaevola when I head out for more plants this week.
I didn’t get a chance to comment yesterday but I definitely am an introvert. Growing up I was always called shy in my school report cards. No, I just wanted to be left alone! My hubby is much more extroverted than I am but has always understood I need time by myself.
No salon/barber shops open here yet so I continue to hack at Chuck’s hair. Don looks great!
Enjoy your day.❤️❤️
I used to think I was shy as well. Now I realize that I’m not that. I think that when we were kids the word ‘shy’ was used instead of introvert.
Thanks, Robin.
Stay safe.
I’m an extrovert moving towards an introvert. When I was in my mid-30s, it occurred to me that I had never lived alone. Always roommates or spouse. I decided that I needed to deliberately live alone for a while to see if I could stand my own company. And not only could I, I really enjoyed having some alone time and as you have mentioned, some “recharging” time. That was a bit of a revelation to me. However, with the pandemic and limited opportunities to socialize, I also realized that I wanted company. With the loosening of restrictions, I am anxious to “get out there” but I want to control the when and how. And during all this stay at home, I’ve been grateful that Keith and I are not bored with each other. That’s the real blessing.
It is a blessing, isn’t it? Same with Don and me. So glad to see you commenting here, dear friend! I miss you. Oh, the adventures we’ve had together!
Much love,
xoxo
Love the title today, it’s perfect. Your hanging basket is very pretty, love that shade of purple, will have to look out for one I think. Don looks great too, I bet that feels more comfortable.
It does. He feels like a weight has been taken off!
Stay safe, Fiona!
This is such a sweet, nice post from you today, Claudia; thank you. The hanging plant is so beautiful and Don looks very handsome! I hope you’re having a good time in your sunny day (we’re cloaked in coastal fog here, but it’s just our SoCalif ‘May Gray” [expected; I know it’s temporary, so I can deal with it; the hot weather will come right on the heels of it, so enjoy the cool while it lasts!]).
I well remember fog and June Gloom!
Thanks, Vicki.
Stay safe.
I grew up as a shy child…blossomed in high school and remain friendly. I always eantsd to get home from
our business and avoid people…same teaching…I don’t like phone calls..prefer texts…have tons of life long Friends…I didn’t mind pandemic as far as isolation. I love being with my kids and their families. I am not an introvert and am not an extrovert. I am just Me. I love people and love life. If I want to stay home I do. If I want to be with the little ones and teach the I do. I majored in ENglish for teaching and psychology for therapy if I chose. Love your blog. You are a delight .
Thanks so much, Brenda. Glad you’re doing well in your new home!
Stay safe.
Claudia — new haircut looks great for Don!! really like that hanging basket–never heard of the plant but it is beautiful!! re: being an in or ex — for the 1st six years of my life I was a loner b/c I was mostly hidden away at home (one of those embarrassing mistakes–life in the 40s), imagine my shock when 1st grade began and there were all these little people my size. so I was very quiet, not knowing how to interact w/them. somewhere at 12-14 yrs old,I discovered I had opinions/wit, that even made teachers chuckle–so I used it, never going far enough to get in trouble learning to enjoy my school time. Of course, now in my ‘old’ age, I freely express my opinions w/o reservation !! My grands are amazed to hear my opinions but they love it!! maybe, I’m a little of both — in and ex.
You very well could be a bit of both, depending on the situation.
Thanks so much, Linda
Stay safe!
yesterday’s post and comments about introversion brought up lots of thoughts last night for me about introversion/shyness/confidence and me as a kid, growing up. as a young child, i was shy around everyone but my family … but still confident i could do whatever i set out to do (thanks to my beloved and wonderful parents for that part). i outgrew the shyness, but then, as an adult out in the world, my confidence took a few knocks (kind of weird, looking back, how they reversed for a while, but that’s life, at least part of mine). thankfully i grew into myself (accepted myself, forgave myself for some bad choices and sought and received God’s forgiveness too), confidence grew back by about age 25 and (while i still want/need to grow and improve what i can) i’ve happily been in what someone calls the popeye stage of life … i am what i am. :)
as i do every day, i greatly enjoyed reading your post, claudia, and everyone’s comments yesterday and today and thank you all for sharing. it’s been both interesting and helpful.
on another note, don’s haircut looks great. what a nice photo of a nice guy!
and the photos of your property show very well, too … the color of your shed and white fence, all that greenery, the purple flowers, the yellow flowers in that galvanized bin (what are they, please?) … glad you are there and have each other and that sweet home!
heading over to visit members of my family. along with God, my family is the best part of my day and life … but i like stopping by here to visit with you all, too! :)
hope you all have a good night.
kathy in iowa
The flowers in the galvanized piece aren’t flowers, but creeping jenny, which is a ground cover. I didn’t plant them there, I planted them in the big garden bed and they self-seeded in the container!
Stay safe, Kathy!
thanks … they are beautiful!
stay safe and happy wednesday!
kathy in iowa
xo
Hi Claudia🙂 I keep meaning to comment to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed the posts about your work/career path. They’re so interesting. I’m wondering, have you ever posted about how you got interested/involved in acting/music/theater in the first place? I would love to know how/when it all began. For that matter I’d love to know that about Don as well!
I’ve noticed, as a chatty/funny/outgoing introvert … that I’m feeling much more introverted with the pandemic … and much more inclined to ignore the opinions of others who try to talk me into doing otherwise (like you mentioned in your Monday post).
Debbie
The truth is, I don’t know. I remember trying out for a part in our 5th grade play. I must have liked it and I went on from there!
Thanks so much, Debbie!
Stay safe.
I function well as an extrovert at my jobs, but at social functions, I want to hide or be with the animals. Many many years ago I read the book “Goddesses in Everyone Woman” (which I should read again) and discovered that I am a Persephone (I know, I’m not big on labels). I have periods of time when I’m outgoing, active with groups and socialization, and then I need a long period (sometimes months), where I just want to be in my little cozy underground nest. It kinda drives my friend and family nuts because they miss me (which is nice) but can’t count on me (which is true but sad). Of course, they see the extrovert side and think that is the “real” me. Which it is, but there’s also the hermit. A time for every season. I’m glad that this horrible year has given you a Don a perspective that fits best for this time in your lives. Glad that you’ve been out and about. Most people are wearing masks here so I’ve now been out to indoor restaurants twice and even to my beloved Barnes and Noble with friends once. It still seems strange, but oh so appreciated. Stay safe! The flowers are beautiful! Do they attract certain birds? I’ve been seeing some very fat happy robins around our area and their perky runs make me so happy.
I’ve seen hummingbirds hovering around those flowers in the past. Fingers crossed they appear again!
Stay safe, Nora!
We have belonged to BJ’s here in Michigan for about a year now. We like it. It’s a bit smaller than a Sam’s or Costco. Seems just the right size for us.
Also, not a thing wrong with being introverted. I never realized how much of an introvert I am until this Pandemic hit.
xo
Yes, we belonged to a BJs when we rented in Westchester County. There wasn’t one in our neck of the woods until a couple of months ago and I missed it!
Thanks so much, Mo!
Stay safe.
Catching up! Don’s hair (and Don in general!) looks terrific. I hope the auditions go well. Fingers crossed. It’s time.
It IS time. He needs to work and we need a new car!
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.