So Thursday, it’s girls night out, and me and the Women Who Run With the Moose (Celeste, Rita, Betty, Dot and Shirley) are having some “refreshments” down to the Brew Ha Ha. You know, “re-hydrating” after Zumba class!

We’re talking about what we’re going to do to celebrate Celeste’s birthday. Her kids and husband are having a special dinner for her, but we’re workin’ on who of us is going to order and pick up her birthday cake.

Are you familiar with More, the magazine “for Women of Style and Substance?” (That’s what it says on the cover.) I know that’s just code for “gals forty and above,” but you gotta admit, it’s kind of a snappy way of putting it. More’s a decent enough magazine. Lot’s of useful tips on looking your best at any age, getting rid of belly fat, reinventing yourself, alternatives to sweat pants. You know, the usual.

Now that I got your attention, all I’m gonna say on that subject is, “Yes!”

Sex is important in a relationship, sure, but affection is key. That’s what I miss most if Charlie’s away ski-dooin’, or huntin’, or ice fishin’ up north, like he was this past week. (They had to cross the border into Quebec to find ice thick enough! That’s the kind of winter we’ve had.) Charlie was gone five days, and boy, did I miss him.

I have never been an all-night sleeper. Ever, even as a kid. I always used to wake up at least once a night. Now that I’m older, though, it’s more like twice, sometimes more.

No big deal. I have my routine. I get up, and eyes half closed, shuffle off to the bathroom, pee, wash my hands and take a sip of water. If my hands are really dry, like they are now, I might put some hand cream on. Did I mention I got Scamp in tow for this whole outing? Every time. He wouldn’t dream of letting me go off on my own!

What’s with the movies lately? I mean, the last two I saw left me dazed and confused. It started when me and the girls, Celeste, Rita, Betty, Dot and Shirley, go down to Bangor a couple weeks ago to catch “Iron Lady.” We all love Meryl Streep (I mean, who doesn’t?), and were all jacked to see her nail another one.

Can’t believe January is over. Wow! It’s usually such a slog. But this year, didn’t it just fly by? I don’t ever remember having so many days in December and January where the temperature got over freezin’! Why, my niece Caitlin’s boyfriend, Adam, is still riding his bike to work! It’s crazy, but I’m not complaining. ‘Course, that can’t be said of everyone.

My sister Irene gave me a new Crock-Pot for Christmas, or “slow cooker” as they’re calling it nowadays. What a great little rig! Listen, I can throw a bunch of stuff into it before I leave for work, and when I get home, the place smells wonderful. Like my personal chef has been slavin’ away all day preparing a delicious, nutritious meal for me. Basically, I get to experience what Charlie’s been comin’ home to for the last forty years!

Get this folks: in Maine, it’s illegal to have your Christmas decorations up after January 14th. Really! And you could be fined for doing so! This was the buzz going ‘round the A&P last week, so I checked it out on the Internet, and apparently it’s true. Not that you can believe everything you read on the ‘net. Still, I found it on more than one site (there are several) dedicated to “dumb laws.”

The most important thing in life is having a positive attitude. That’s what I think. It not only helps you live longer, it makes life a heck of a lot less stressful and frankly, much more fun.

Easier said than done, right? ‘Cause some days, it just seems like there’s of host of little gremlins conspiring against me to derail my positivity. And the biggest culprit of them all? Me, usually.

The other day, I happened to be watching Charlie when he sneezed. Nothing particularly fascinating about that, of course, but he was standing up at the time, and I saw him kind of bend his knees a little and hunch over.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

“What does it look like I’m doing? Protecting my back.”