Tag Archives: Starbucks

Mother Natures’ Trick or Treat

Gallery

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This gallery contains 4 photos.

Today is Halloween. It’s actually “All Hallows’ Eve,” the day before “All Saints’ Day” or “All Hollows’ Day” when Catholics honor the saints. The traditions surrounding “All Hallows’ Eve” or “Halloween” come from old Celtic religions which believed that the … Continue reading →

Routines

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Routines are the glue that holds our lives together. Their effects are almost drug-like. It’s a simple form of self-medicating. Sounds profound.  I’d like to say that Sigmund Freud said that but it was just me or maybe I read it in a greeting card. I would love to say that I am spontaneous (I am!) and always willing to be adventurous (I am that too!) but I do like my Starbucks in the morning, my alone time (absolutely!) during the day and some level of bonding with the critters (yep, even the fish) to keep me even keeled (that is code for not cranky).  My recent transition from full-time working has tested many of my routines. I remember stories of people I worked with long ago who would continue to put on a coat and tie in the morning and leave the house after they were downsized from their jobs. I thought that was just crazy…but maybe not so.

I have to admit that I jump in the car to get a mocha latte almost every morning (ok, every morning). I still prefer to shower in the morning, plan my clothes the night before and organize my day. I don’t need to do any of that on a schedule but if you take away my routine, I am lost.

For the past few weeks we had rotating house guests and a family reunion (that will be a separate blog of epic proportions!) in the middle. That was two weeks of “bouncing” routines and I feel fairly discombobulated. (Yes, that’s a word – spell check said so!) House guests always require a change in routines even when they are no trouble. For one, the cat routines are disrupted which causes insane overcompensation and guilt on my part. In order to restore my sanity, it will be necessary to:

  • Have a girls’ night out
  • Eat chocolate
  • Drink margaritas, which by the way, are a much better form of self-medication
  • Indulge in a lot of alone time
  • Get back on the walking schedule (that was the only disruption I truly enjoyed)
  • Eat more chocolate
  • Hug the cats

And…I am on it!

So What Are You Going To Do?

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I have heard this phrase more times in the past two months or so than I care to admit. Recently a teacher who has every summer off asked me the same question.  It is always said with a tone. Is it envy? Curiosity? (Does anyone really care what I do all day? Really, I am not that exciting.) Or is it just disapproval as the speaker would use the time so much more effectively than I? On one hand it would appear that I have nine or more hours a day — so where does it go? After six weeks of part-time retirement, my project list is just as large and very little if anything is crossed off. Here are some things that I have done or experienced:

  • Sleep an hour longer in the morning (hey, I deserve that!).
  • Leisurely read the paper (instead of the quick review you give it when you are late for work).
  • Make a Starbucks run (it’s very important for people to keep their routines).
  • Get health care benefits.  If anyone thinks this is simple, you are mistaken.  You can spend two days on this even when you have had years of experience in managing health care benefits.
  • Figure out when you need to file for social security and Medicare so you can time everything appropriately especially with your new health benefits.  That is a government site; do I need to say more? Another day lost. Infinitely more complicated and confusing than regular health care – see above.  Thanks, Washington.
  • Update your financials and research accountants.  This is not only a time consuming project but it has scope-creep.  Let me explain. First you need to print your latest statements but the networking switch that allows you to share a printer goes bad.  You spend the better part of the day researching new switches and visiting stores only to find out that no one stocks the highly rated ones.  Now you have to order online and will have to wait to print statements. Bummer! But hey, that’s not scope-creep that’s just life. Scope-creep is when you open the drawer where you file your financials and decide to revise your filing system, clean out the drawer, make another Starbucks run, etc.  (Now do you get the picture?)
  • Clean the house like your house cleaner never did — a day and a half lost and believe me this won’t happen often!

Now for those of you who are wondering what wonderful things I plan to do, here they are:

  • Solve world peace.
  • Once that is done, solving world starvation will be a cinch because everyone will be singing “Cum-bay-yah” and very willing to give.
  • I have been toying with the national economic problems but I am not sure I will have time next week.
  • Start planning the fundraising for the cat wing on the local animal shelter.

Just Another Day in Paradise?

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Ah, retirement.   I woke up Saturday morning from a really bad nightmare where I dreamt that I lost my wallet with all my credit cards and all my money.  It was so real, I jumped out of bed and checked my wallet.  Now I don’t get wound up in dreams but  I did get the symbolism.

Later in the day I called my brother who retired in 1994. I was slightly disjointed from my nightmare, wondering what on earth I had done.  He tells me how much I am going to miss work!  He missed the projects, the sense of accomplishment, the sense of purpose, the routine, the people, the camaraderie….get the picture. Of course, this same brother is the treasurer of the board of directors at the food bank.  He plays golf 3 times a week with a slightly more than bogey handicap. I can never find him because he is always busy but he certainly misses work!  At this point, I am thinking I should just call the undertaker and get it over with.

Sunday morning I woke up to a heat wave which is predicted to last all week.  Now I love hot weather but it was in the ‘80s for my 8:30 a.m. walk! Yes, we bit the bullet and turned the air conditioning on. Now I am imprisoned in my house!  I need friends with pools! At least I have the cats.

I’m sure it will be better when I don’t have to get up early Monday…maybe. There is always Starbucks.