Since it is almost the end of the calendar year, I thought I’d go back and take a look at what my astrologer had predicted for me this year.  I had a wonderful astrology reading by Carolyn Crawford when I was out at the Miraval Spa last winter. 

Did Carolyn’s predictions come true?  Should I believe in this stuff?  Hmm, hmm, hmm.  Let’s see…

- Carolyn predicted that I would be very busy at work during the spring and that I would not be signing any contracts on my house.  CAROLYN WAS RIGHT!  I didn’t put my house on the market until the very end of August.  I tried to get it all fixed up during the prime buying season, but I never made it in time.

- Carolyn predicted that the weekend of May 30th would be a stressful time for me.  That was the weekend I attended my boyfriend L’s son’s wedding.  I met his ex.  It was more stressful for L than for me.  CAROLYN WAS A BIT OFF…BUT MAYBE SHE WANTED ME TO CHANNEL THE STRESS FOR MY MATE L. However, I was a bit stressed when one of the hors d’oeurves fell off the fork during the reception and soiled my indigo gown. 

- Carolyn predicted that June would be a good month.  It was.  It was.  CAROLYN WAS RIGHT AGAIN!  I so enjoyed June weekends at my condo on the corner at the shore.

- Carolyn said that August would be a happy time too.  She said that my relationship with L would be very steady.  Yes, it was.  We took lots of steady walks on the beach during August and practiced our twirls after each walk. (I’m trying to get L to take dance lessons, but twirls are as far as I’ve gotten so far.  I’ll have to go back to see Carolyn, or perhaps another more local astrologer in the new year, and see what she predicts for dance lessons for 2011.)

- “During the end of October, one of your children will experience a great deal of career success,” said Carolyn.  CAROLYN WAS RIGHT!  YES, SHE WAS!  YES, SHE WAS! My daughter A got a big job promotion in October.  I am so proud of A and her BIG accomplishments. 

- “You will be buying and selling real estate in November,” said Carolyn, “no sale before then.”  And all along I thought I was procrastinating about the listing of my house.  This is what Carolyn meant.  SHE WAS RIGHT!  My house sold this fall and now I am moving in about six weeks.

What does the rest of the year hold for me?  And what about the new year? 

According to Carolyn, I have lots to look forward to on December 27th.  All my planets will be aligned and this alignment only happens once every two years.  It is supposed to be a really nice day.  I’ll have to mark my calendar and do something special.

According to Carolyn, I will have extra dollars to spend on my home in January 2011.  (Maybe I should play the lottery on December 27th or go to Atlantic City and play the BIG slot machine on December 27th.  Maybe I will win and have lots of money to spend on my new townhome in January 2011.)

Oh, Carolyn.  Oh, Carolyn.  You are such a great astrologer.  I will definitely have to visit Miraval again and schedule another astrology reading some time in the future.

Oh, no.  Oh, no. Tonight at yoga my meditation card said “The Present.”   It said that “if I live in the present, the future will never come. That I should cherish each day, here and now.”

But what about all of Carolyn’s predictions for the rest of the year? What about December 27th…my special day?  And what about having lots of money to spend on my new home in January 2011?  

The Present.  Predictions.  The Present.  Predictions. 

Which way should I go? 

I think I should still buy a lottery card on December 27th.  You never know what can happen…I’m going with Carolyn on this one.

Judi

“What, you aren’t keeping the front loading washer and dryer?” said my daughter A as I told her about my soon-to-be moving day. (I hope, I hope if all goes well.)

“But, I won’t be able to bring home my delicate clothes to be washed anymore,” said A, “I used to save so much money.  Now, I’ll have to take my delicates to the cleaner.”

“I know, I liked those washers and dryers too,” said my son D.

“Don’t worry,” I replied to my kids, “Eventually, I will buy new front loaders and I bet they will be even better, with more advanced technology.”

I vividly remember the momentous day when I purchased my front loading Kenmore washer and dryer about five or six years ago.  I really wanted the gold washers, since I like earth tones.  Instead, I bought the grey ones, since the gold ones cost significantly more. I remember how my kids made fun of me when I fell in love with my washer and dryer. 

“I’ve never seen someone so excited about a washer and dryer,” said my son D at the time. They both laughed at me and my new prized possessions.  I even built a special laundry room for my dark grey twosome.  I bought the pedestals to put them on too…of course my new front loaders deserved to be put on pedestals.  They were THE most special appliances and I took great care of them.

Unfortunately, I did include the front loaders as part of the sale of my house.  So in approximately two months (I hope, I hope, if all goes well) I will be moving on, but my favorite front loaders will be staying put.  I hope the new owner will treat them with kindness — that she will make sure the washer is cleaned once a month with its special rinse cycle and the dryer is lint-free.  (However, I must admit that just this weekend I was angry at my dryer for the first time.  That’s because, my dryer shrunk my Spanx Super Tummy Control Unbelievable underwear.  By accident, I threw my Spanx in the dryer with my other clothes.  Now they are so small that I think they could fit a Barbie doll.  Note to self: Never, ever throw any future Spanx in the dryer!)

While I prep and pack and pack and prep for my big December move, I must shed the BIG LOADERS for a townhome with other perks that are more important.  I no longer will have to find landscapers or tree removal services.  I will no longer have to hunt down contractors to clean leaves from my gutters in the fall or clear my driveway of mountains of snow in the winter. 

Instead, I will gain more time, perhaps to blog more or begin to write my book about the extraordinary journey I have been on during my life after 50.  I will be moving during the week of the third anniversary of my husband’s passing.  It will be a bittersweet day.  All the memories of the past 13 years of my life on the ranch (aka ranch house) will soon be behind me.(I hope, I hope if all goes well.) There are so many wonderful memories to savor.

Wonder what new wonderful memories I will create in my new townhome?  Wonder what new friends I will make in my new community?  Can’t wait to decorate and buy furniture for my new office loft. And I think I’ll eventually make one of the bedrooms a yoga/meditation room.  Ah yes, that other bedroom would be perfect for an exercise room for my stationary bicycle.

“Hold on,” said my son D.  “What about my room?”

“Where am I going to sleep?” said my daughter A, as I told her that I was not taking her bedroom furniture.  That furniture is more than 20 years old and is ready to be donated to charity so a new little girl can enjoy it.

“Don’t worry,” I said to my kids, “There will be plenty of room for you both when you come home to visit. (I hope, I hope if all goes well.) You are both welcome to my empty nest anytime, just don’t bring your delicates.  My laundromat is now temporarily closed to visitors!

Judi

Have you been on Facebook?  What you have hardly any friends on Facebook?  (However, I did see “The Social Network” movie this past weekend and it inspired me to think about ramping up my Facebook pages…but I haven’t yet.  And I was definitely in the “older people” camp as David Carr referred to in his NY Times article this week, “the older people who believed this to be a cautionary tale about a callous young man who betrays friends, partners and principles as he hacks his way to fame.”)

So much to do…I can’t keep up with myself.

Have you been on Twitter?  What you haven’t tweeted today?

So much to do…I can’t keep up with myself.

Have you used your new Wii?  Why haven’t you used your new Gold’s Gym Dance game that you won at the BlogHer conference?  What’s that…you’ve only danced once since you bought the Wii Gaming System specifically to dance?

So much to do…I can’t keep up with myself.

Have you read a book on your Kindle lately? Glad you downloaded several books, but have you read any of them in recent months?

So much to do…I can’t keep up with myself.

I know you just bought that wonderful new Magnolia Bakery Cookbook filled with recipes from the World-Famous Bakery in NYC where you ate the most wonderful vanilla cupcakes.  But, but, but, have you baked any cupcakes yet?  (I haven’t baked any cupcakes.  I so want to bake the vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting and put sprinkles on top.  I bought the confectioners’ sugar yesterday for the icing.  Soon, soon, soon.  I must bake those vanilla cupcakes.  Ooh, ooh, ooh, I have to buy new muffin tins and cupcake holders before I can bake the vanilla cupcakes.)

So much to do…I can’t keep up with myself.

Have you read the October issues of Vogue, “O“, More, and InStyle?  No, no, no.  I’m still catching up with my September issue of Vanity Fair and haven’t even gotten to the article on Lady Gaga yet. (I do like this magazine.  I don’t subscribe, but I bought the issue on the newsstand because Lady Gaga is on the cover with gray hair and I do love Lady Gaga.  No, no, no, Judi you cannot subscribe to another magazine. Throw out that subscription card.  Do it now. Do it. Do it…throw it out RIGHT NOW.)

So much to do…I can’t keep up with myself.

Wait a minute.  Wait just a minute.

I have to stop thinking about all the things I haven’t done and start thinking about all the things I have done:

I have risen every morning and bicycled for 15 minutes while multi-tasking and reading my September magazines.

I have gone for my massage almost every week and taken my yoga class most Tuesday evenings. (Ohm, namaste.)

I have cut up all the tree branches that fell down on my lawn after the many rain storms. (Okay, my boyfriend L helped me cut up the large branches, but I dragged the heavy trash cans down to the curb this evening for tomorrow’s recycling pick up.)

I have lifted my weights at the gym this week and paid my bills so the electric and gas companies will keep my lights on and my heat running. (It is getting colder.)

And, finally, I may have sold my house and may put a bid in on a townhouse if the sale goes through. 

Whew, I am getting tired just reading all I have done.

Oh, no. Oh, no. It can’t be. 

What’s that in the mail box? The November issue of “O” magazine. It’s only October 6th? That’s not fair.

So much to do…I can’t keep up with myself.

Judi