I live in upstate NY (near the birth place of Mormonism) and it is sort of the same, but not so many Mormons.

And, I got my cat 10 or more years ago, and they said she was elderly and would die soon. I spend years thinking she would die any second, and now she is either 27 or much younger than advertised!

Facing the fact that I'm 30 and I don't know how cook - like, AT ALL? Is not one of them.

A new adventure! I think learning to cook with things like You Tube and the internet in general would be a lot easier. My mom told hysterical stories of her cooking disasters after marrying because she never cooked when she lived with her doting grandmother.

The internet has been the source of many a cooking lesson for me and I have cooked for a really long time.

I'm actually planning on getting my dad an oldie of his own this spring. With his input of course. He's lonely, and he LOVES when Darb comes to visit. He has long ongoing if one sided conversations with her and takes her for walks when otherwise he never walks anywhere. A little companionly dog who'll hang out and watch birds with him will be really awesome. I'm waiting til winter is over but the older cats and dogs are so cool and so much less likely to be adopted out. Even in a shelter the babies have a good shot but the grays need and have earned a final chance.

Speaking of new adventure, x-posty from Bitches. If people want to see video of me and my son's GF in a big ass swamp buggy in the Florida wildlands check out the FB place. She wanted to go on a 3 days camping thing with me and her mom for her birthday so we agreed. The 3 of us, and about 130+ other women. Good times.

x-posty... Yay me being off computer for 3 days! Yes, I had my phone, but sucky service and I hate doing anything but texting or messaging on it anyway. So I spent Friday and the weekend at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Becoming an Outdoor Woman seminar event. Hanging with a bunch of women in cammo and taking classes including Talkin' Turkey, Knot Tying, Small Game Hunting, Bird Watching, and a bunch of other stuff. Spent several hours out in the swamps in a huge ass swamp buggy yesterday and today. I didn't do so much of the skills type classes of shooting or archery, but more of the educational type ones. The enforcement officer that taught the turkey class had dinner at our table one night and noting my green dot for vegetarian on my name tag told me he would be happy to let me know which berries were good and which plants had fresh water in them and so forth so I could survive in the wilderness without resorting to eating bugs or squirrels or whatever.

We had a nice discussion about acquiring knowledge. I haven't eaten turkey in probably 40 years, but now I know 4 different calls and how to construct and use a blind and a whole lot of other knowledge about hunting wild turkeys. All knowledge is valuable and learning new things and exposing yourself to different and new things is as important for the aging brain as it is for the toddler brain. So YaY brain stimulation.

We also sang around the bonfire each night as a couple women brought instruments. There were ~140 women from all over and it was fun to meet them. The coolest ever was a 'balance' service animal for one woman. 156 pound dane of some sort who was so attentive and capable. The woman was going on hikes and everything despite her serious balance issues because Tolkien was by her side. She said he detects her being unsteady before she even notices. You could see it too. Providing safety and security for her. His only issue was the potty stalls where he couldn't fit because he was very anxious waiting for her.

That sounds amazing, Laura!

A little companionly dog who'll hang out and watch birds with him will be really awesome.

Absolutely! Companionship, exercise, responsibility and routine. Lots of benefits.

I'm 56 years old, and I only figured out how to cook frozen chicken breasts a month ago.

Facing the fact that I'm 30 and I don't know how cook - like, AT ALL? Is not one of them.

YouTube is your friend!

I recommend Jacques Pepin for omelets and eggs:

[link]

I feel like I didn't cook much at all until after I was 30 and, yes, there are so many resources now.