Winter Solstice

 

 

What is the magic of the Winter Solstice that always has a mood-altering effect on me?  I know it is my mind that believes the "days are getting longer" and that I won't really be able to "see" the result until weeks from now.  No matter, I am always more energized after celebrating the event.  This year I spent the waning hours of the solstice writing Christmas cards and sending electronic messages to friends in Hawaii.  There is a lot to be said (positive) about the age of instant communication.

 

I remember the year I spent on Guam.  I had to schedule a time (Sunday mid-day for me, Saturday night in Indiana) to call and connect with the family.  When the earthquake hit all communication was stopped for several days - leaving those stateside wondering my fate. 

 

This morning's message was that I will be peaceful and have sufficient time to get everything accomplished that must be done.  So far I overslept and awoke with barely sufficient time to make it to physical therapy.  The rain has not let up all morning.  Yet here I sit, one last blog before heading to the Christmas festivities.  I am peaceful. 

 

May you have to same peace within that I have.  I am deciding not to be stressed today or through this week.  I have decided to enjoy what comes each day - after all, there is more daylight to enjoy now.

 

The cold is coming.
December's winter solstice.
Start of the season.

 ~Robert Pettit, "Winter Solstice"

 





Crunch Time



The Christmas Rush has started.  The pressure is mounting.  I guess I am starting to feel the holiday spirit.  Not sure I am ready, however. 

Cookies have been baked and given away to several on the list.  Today I will complete one of them for the family gathering and prepare the dough for tomorrow's final baking action (date cookies, of course).

There is also preparation for the "Night Before the Night Before" party (I have a couple appetizers in mind for my contribution).  Then there is also wrapping, the Christmas letter to be sent, and packing to be accomplished prior to leaving for the "homeland" and family festivities. 

Winter comes tomorrow (shortest day of the year).  My attitude starts to "darken" after the Summer Solstice, but the Winter one cheers me up (longer days and more sunshine).  With the exception of yesterday, the sun has not been visible here for several months.  Tomorrow will definitely correct my lingering doubts about winter and should make the next few months bearable.

All this said, here I sit communicating with you, my dedicated fans, listening to "The Shawshank Redemption," and putting off the inevitable feeling of an impending deadline.  Once again, the pressure player will rise to the challenge.  I just have to select the appropriate sequence of activities.  I love this movie.

"At Christmas, all roads lead home." ~Marjorie Holmes

Windows 8-point something ...

I might sound a tad frustrated, but so be it.  As someone who grew up with computers, starting with punching cards in Fortran, the newest Windows platform is a mess.  It was designed for idiots, or fools who grew up believing that notebooks were computers.  As a result, those of us in the "rusty" age group are not proficient in its use.  We also don't feel compelled to spend hours dinking around on the system and attempting to see how many "cool" ways there may be to accomplished the simplest of tasks (like write a letter and have it print on paper).

Last week I spent over an hour with a Dell specialist "fixing" my all-in-one printer so it would also scan while not connected to my computer.  Within two days it no longer would scan or print.  Today's session was closer to two hours.  Guess what - the fix (apparently) is that the printer must reside CLOSE to the router. 

Now let's review.  The new laptop, which I prefer to use in the living room, requires a wireless printer.  Said printer was residing on a file cabinet adjacent to the desk where the laptop is generally used.  The router is in the office.  The desk top computer (rarely used these days) requires a "hard connection" to a printer.  It also cannot recognize the new printer (because of the archaic operating system).  The desk in the living room is a roll top and not suited for the desk top computer.

Hum.  Therefore, the laptop prints to the unit in the office, while in use in the living room.  I guess my Fitbit will record an increase in daily steps that will result from the resolution of the technology problem

That said, the office is in total disarray (no photos yet).  It is my major project, and started about a week or so ago.  The rodent "visitors" had invaded the closets (which are full of shelves and, thus, files and what have you).  The "stuff" needs to be cleaned out, sorted, and generally tossed.  During "round one" of the activities, I have managed to sort/toss approximately 2/3s of the first shelf.  The process, unfortunately, has also netted a mess on the floor and all flat surfaces.  A printer in the area has not been on the immediate agenda. 

So much for complaining.  Now I am hopeful that a Christmas letter of some sort can be generated and mailed prior to the end of the year.

One interesting development during the search was uncovering several "old" photos.  I close with this one.  I have even provided the month and year.  It appears this was my very first sports car. 

 "There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs." ~Ansel Adams

It was the ...

...best of times and the worst of times, ... .

Sir Charles Dickens nailed today with his "Tale of Two Cities." 

The day started with me rising and having barely sufficient time to get showered, dressed and out the door for therapy.  Then I looked at my phone - a text.  "...the worst of times, ... ."  A friend's mother left and went home to be with her husband and other ancestors.  It wasn't really the worst, however.  Her quality of life had seriously diminished, and it was definitely a great day.

Therapy had me with a substitute therapist.  Not a bad guy, I must admit.  No pain until after I left.  That went away after I got home, and I actually completed a couple additional exercises this evening.  That isn't done on a "normal" therapy day (but then I don't usually have to be there by 9:30 AM).

I finally began a cleaning task that I have been delaying for many, many, ... months.  Cleaning the office!.  The "rodents' tracks" had been identifiable on the shelving, so I began there.  After a few hours, I have about 1/4 of one shelf completed.  I scored one "recycler" Christmas present.  However, the "best" - I netted $89:  $10 in a going away card when I left Buzzi, $20 in a wedding card, and $59 in a birthday card from mom. 

I have always said that if someone else has to clean out my house, they should look in every card that I have saved.  I am starting that task myself.  In fact, I even discarded many Christmas cards from 1998 today.  I have gotten a real start on the process. 

Included in the morass that I evaluated was a few quotes related to family trees and relatives.  I believe I will close with some of them at this time.

 

"I trace my family history so I know who to blame."

 

"A family tree can wither, if no one tends to its roots."

 

"Genealogy:  where you can confuse the dead and irritate the living."

 

   ~ Edmund Burke



Winter Already - and I am NOT Ready!

 I find it hard to believe that winter started this week (that is astrological winter, or whatever the weather man said).  Granted we had snow before Thanksgiving, and even on that day as I drove to Indiana to be with the family.  But this morning I woke to freezing rain.  I almost decided not to venture out.  Then I remembered I have now taken the "big car" (i.e., the Pilot, "Chuck") to the mechanic and had him checked out.

Therefore, it was time to "put on my big girl panties" and head to town.  Only the first three roads were "icy" - and the rest were merely wet.  Good travel to town. 

However, the weather from the first of this year (as documented in the photos) continues to haunt me.  The "what if's" of winter driving always make me nervous.  I likely should take a winter driving course (annually would be best - sort of like taking skiing lessons before heading down the first slope of the year).

But what's the fun in that.  Maybe it would be better just to move to, say, northern Michigan for the winter.  I could definitely hone my snow/ice/slush driving skills then.  More than likely, however, I would be a winter hermit - only venturing out when the roads were clear enough to get to the local grocery/liquor stores.

Not only is it winter, but Christmas rapidly approaches.  Because this is my first one as a retiree, and because I have been making (limited) headway in clearing out closets and other "storage" areas, I have decided to make this one a "recycler" Christmas. 

I am a true believer that we all have way too much "stuff."  I stared with my desk a couple months ago, and rapidly eliminated several years of saved bank statements and cancelled checks.  What the heck - the seven-year period of tax record saving was well beyond these papers.  Naturally, my bag of stuff to burn was almost full, so yesterday before the freezing rain began I ventured out in the back to my "burn barrel."  When I moved it to the clearing away from the tall grasses I noticed movement in the bottom, from under the ashes built up from the last burning event.  Yep - field mouse!  He/she popped out of one of the air holes and dashed to the tall grass.  I lit papers and dropped them in - more mice!  Enough to stop a girl's heart! 

The mice have known about winter for many weeks.  They invaded my house and tormented the cats.  There have been a few "bodies" around - including one earlier this week (I picked it up by its tail and took it out to the far side of the driveway - coyote snack).  I have attempted to ignore these country signs that could be pointing to another cold, snowy several months.  Now it is too late - I can't make reservations for southern climes at this point.  I will have to tough it out.  Trips to Indiana may need to be maintained on an flexible schedule to avoid the truly nasty conditions.

Illinois winter could be similar to Northern Michigan.  If that is true, I will be the hermit. 

 

"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself." ~Ruth Stout

Favorite Season

Ah, my favorite season has arrived.  I know what you are thinking - FALL!  I do admit I love the colors of the changing leaves and the farmers in the fields reaping the benefit of summer's bounty.  But that is not what I mean this time.  

I admit to a fondness for news and politics, but this year has been dismal in both accounts (at least in Illinois this is the situation).   

We have a totally inept governor who is trying for re-election following his 16 years in the state capital.  On the opposite side (of the two major parties, that is) is a wealthy business man from Chicago who has invested his personal wealth heavily in the campaign.  The mud slinging began early in the competition.  Sadly, most of the ads have not been endorsed by the candidates.  I note the disclaimers added to the end of each, citing one "citizen" group or "taxpayers for ..." without stating exactly who has paid for such ads. 

Unfortunately, the rancor is not limited to the governor's race.  The state representatives are just as bad.  Only the current state senator (Dick Durbin) seems above the fray.  Lately, however, his "taxpayer" group has started to slam the challenger as being one who will cut Medicare benefits and raise taxes on all but the wealthy.  What a shame!

This election is bringing out all the skeletons in the various closets (I guess Halloween is right around the corner).  Candidates are being badmouthed for having multiple homes in various states, being out only for the wealthy, and so forth.  Durbin has the audacity to state in his endorsed ad that he is writing legislation to penalize corporations for moving out of the country, to which I say you have been in Washington for 36 years - why are you only now doing this (I surmise he has placed his wealth off-shore in a retirement account that the US Treasury cannot tap into).

Which such blatant statements accusing each side of wrong doing and taking aim against the poor and middle class, some are wondering who, if anyone, to vote for.  Church leaders are now speaking out on voting and citing scriptures that indicate it is the duty of all to be politically active. 

Personally, I love this time of the year.  Dissecting any vestige of truth from all the ads is a challenge.  One I gladly accept.  During the recent televised, so-called debate between the governor candidates (which sounded more like a recital of campaign ads), I looked into some of the more onus accusations (via my trusty internet - which one can't really trust).  I looked for the truth in both sides.  Now to select the least of the devils when I enter the voting booth.  Actually, I am considering the third candidate, who was not invited to the debate.  All I need to do now is find out who this person might be.

"Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule — and both commonly succeed, and are right."  ~ H.L. Mencken

October Already!

Where has the time gone?  I guess that is what happens in retirement.  More than past time to catch up and begin my life's story here.

The last time I was about to prepare for a trip to Alaska where a marathon was the running objective for the week.  The kitties (as demonstrated by Blondie) were not thrilled when I packed for the journey to the Northwest, but the trip was about to begin.

I joined by traveling/running buddies and headed to Seattle on July 25.  We boarded the ship on Saturday morning, July 26.  And the adventure began.


We flew from St. Louis on Saturday morning, and headed to the Holland America ship to board about 1:00 PM West Coast time.  We wandered around and got oriented to the ship layout before joining the running group (a subset of the full passenger list) for a briefing by John "The Penguin" Bingham and his wife, Jenny Hatfield.  The week was laid out for us - Deck run (3 miles) on Sunday, half-marathon trail run in Juneau on Monday, with runs at Sitka on Wednesday and Ketchecan on Thursday.  By the end of the week a full marathon distance was to be completed.

The ship sailed after the mandatory lifeboat training.  We had a reserved set of tables in the main dining room so we could eat with our fellow running travelers.  Excitement set in.

The Sunday deck run was a lot of fun.  The tale will be told later (after I figure out how to capture additional photos from that event and post here).  I believe we also discovered the Crow's Nest - a bar at the forward upper deck of the ship.  Happy Hour was in the early evening with the second drink at half price.

The arrival in Juneau was accompanied by great temperatures (in the 50s) and a light rain.  We were impressed by the hospitality of the local running club who sponsored our run.  It was looking like a perfect day to conquer the elements and the trail.  

There was an option at this site - either a 5K for those only wishing to run a half marathon during the week, and the half marathon trail run for the rest of us.  

The trail had several challenges - plenty of roots and a 680-foot climb up "the hill."  Additionally, there was a "stream crossing" that required assistance to clear.  But that all went well.  My partners in crime and I continued bravely forward, and eventually (after walking most of the way on the trail) we found what appeared to be a flat trail without tree interference.  Unfortunately, I was in the lead at that point.

To keep the story short I apparently lost my concentration and did a face plant on the trail.  However, my face merely was covered with trail mud.  It was my left arm that took the major hit - I broke the humerus just below the shoulder.  Thus, my running adventure ended.  

The rescue squad came and took me down in a Stokes basket to the elevation where the 4-wheelers were about to access.  The basket was loaded on the back and we continued the decent to the location of the ambulance, where I was then transported to the ER at the Juneau hospital.  Confirmation through x-ray that the arm was broken.  I got a sling and some pain killers and made it back to the ship before it departed from the port (at 9 PM).

The trip was a lot of fun.  The people were great, and I even was granted my medal (even though it really was a DNF for me).  I joined the others in port for lunch and sight seeing after their morning runs.   The drugs were found to merely induce sleepiness, but I took them faithfully at night.  The last dose was just prior to boarding the plane back to the Midwest.

Since my return, my ambitions for part-time employment have taken a backseat to physical therapy.  I had my first appointment with the "bone doctor" in Terre Haute on August 15, and started light exercises at home then.  The next appointment (September 12) resulted in getting hooked up with a physical therapist.  I am in the third week and actually can raise my arm high enough to was my hair.  This is really progress.

There are many other tales to be told, and I hope to be a better blogger now that I can type with both hands (it was one-finger for several weeks).  Besides the mid-term elections are upon us and I am still in Illinois.  There is much to be said about that was well.

"We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails." ~ Author Unknown

Retirement - Part 1

I am well aware that my blogging has been dismal at best.  Much has happened since the last post, so a brief thumbnail should be sufficient.

Retired on January 24.  Felt like vacation for the first couple months.  During that time I read about 10 books, and finally decided to "do something." 

I went to my Outlook folder and organized my life with lists of tasks to be accomplished.  I started on a routine that included weekly laundry, house cleaning, and other domestic tasks.  All was well.

Weather warmed and my neighbors decided to start the routine walking.  Have done 1.25+ miles most days since.  Then the annual attempt to complete 13.1 miles I Indy.  Training went well until the last week.  On that Sunday I came down with the crud and laid on the couch from Sunday until Friday morning.  Got up, packed and headed to Indy.  Walked a lot of the "race" but finished in under 3 hours.  Made a new friend along the way and talked and walked for 6 miles or so.

Returned to the homestead in time for mowing season to be in earnest.  Then trips to California (visited 95-year-young uncle and cousin) and back and forth to Indiana - see mom, meet Frank (Doug and Sarah's new addition), and party with Ava for her 8th.  Back home to mow (Memorial Day weekend).

Uncle (Michigan) hospitalized in March, broke hip, and then got really sick.  He passed away on Monday (June 2).  Flurry of calls, and finally a schedule for the services (June 20).  All is well.

Oh yes, finally caved to the flurry of contacts by recruiters and took and interview at a cement plant in Louisville.  Very nice plant, great folks.  Waiting for a call from the plant manager.

Another disaster hit last week.  Computer failure when cat deposited a glass of water on my main computer.  The Internet was "unstable," cell phone didn't work well (and messages were not received), and a new computer was required.  New computer this week, Windows 8.1 to be learned, and slowly getting back on my feet.

As for retirement - fraught with visits from mice in the house (and me hyperventilating while on a chair trying to get cats to take care of the problem), lost task list and non-accomplished week, and now another race to train for (Alaska - marathon - late July/early August).  Oh yes, and perhaps a project in the offing late summer/early fall.  Project work in retirement - YES!  Full-time employment - I don't think so (but can be open minded). 

I am beginning to see why folks say they can't figure out how they ever had time to work.  It isn't time, it is the preference to do other things - like site on one's porch, drinking coffee and typing an overdue blog during a pleasant morning.  Much better than hard hat and safety glasses.

"It's not about speed and gold medals.  It's about refusing to be stopped." - Amby Burfoot

Year of the Horse

I checked with Wikipedia to determine the characteristics of Year of the Horse:

"The horse is symbolic of energetic and financial volatility and impulsiveness, including taking on various new projects with variable success, and borrowing and spending money."

 

 

Now to contemplate how that fits in with my year.  Implusiveness - yes, on almost the spur of the moment I "retired."  New projects - none yet, but I have been reaching out to recruiters for part-time and/or contract work, as welll as updated my Maven profile in hopes of attracting some "business."  Spending money - well, that will be obvious.  My retirement "pensions" plus social security allowance won't cover my monthly expenses, so I will be spending all those hard earned dollars.

 

I had hope that the Chinese Zodiac would predict changes in a positive manner, but it appears this could be a year of uncertainty.  As for volatility - I have been listening to CNBC today (Power Lunch, for example) and the stock market currently is going nuts in a positive direction.  Maybe I should verify my portfolio.

 

Week four of retirement is about to bring the shift in focus.  I have completed two books this week ("DASH DIet for Weight Loss" and "Big Russ & Me"), both non-fiction; as opposed to last week's reading fest of "King & Maxwell" (shear action fiction).  The shift, which isn't complete, included cleaning of the bathroom and starting the chores around the house that need to be completed.  The kitchen was tackled a week ago, and all has either been put away (in a permenant spot) or moved to the next room that will be cleaned.

 

The bathroom project included emptying the drawers and cupboards under the sink.  That resulted in a full trash bag of out-of-date medications and what-have-yous.  I was feeling very justified.

 

I used my "electric" floor mop,  and am about to put it out for a garage sale or "free cycling."  I have determined that an old fashion mop does a much better job.  Amazing I didn't notice this in the past.

 

Snow is on the way - oh, joy.  With luck it will hold off until after I return home tonight - annual "Engineer's Week" banquet in Champaign.  I feel an obligation to attend, because I am now a life member of ASCE.  As I recall many of last year's participants fit that category. 

 

Retirement - still a little too early to tell, but give me a couple more weeks.  In the meanwhile, I will contemplate the meaning of this Year of the Horse and attempt to make a correlation with my life. 

 

This is the year of the "earth horse," and I was born in the year of the "earth rat."  These two are not close on the compatibility scale.  The Earth designation, however, is an "in-between" state.  I suspect that because the horse and the rat have "no relationship" and we are in the earth phase, this Year of the Horse with its volatility should not have an impact on those of us in the "rat" category.  At least I can hope that is true.

 

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves; we are underlings." ~William Shakespeare

 



Week One

First "work week" of retirement is coming to an end.  After four weeks of recovery from high blood pressure, I don't yet see a huge change. 

 Buddy is spending most of his time on the couch.  Blondie begs for food and then wanders off to sleep (during the day) in either the guest bedroom or one of the closets.  Black Beauty on my bed (where I think she spends most of her time - both day and night).  So, life here is pretty "normal."

There are exceptions.  The kitchen is a MESS.  All the stuff from Metropolis is still "staged" where it fell when I got home last weekend and on Monday. 

The week so far:  Monday to Stewardson to pick up the second half of my "stuff" from Donna's car, Tuesday to Decatur to sign up for Social Security and Medicare Part B, Wednesday to Shelbyville for a stove/microwave light and "plastic containers" to protect food from mice, and Thursday to church for "old folks' Bible Study (which apparently has been postponed until March because of weather) and a stop at local appliance/plumbing place to get on the list for sump pump repair).  Now it is the end of the first week - time to get organized I suppose.

Couple walks in the campground, logging food and other statistics on Fitbit, and generally taking it easy.  Oh yes - I also applied for two jobs yesterday.  One is an assistant to a CPA for the tax season and the other is on-line/phone customer support for one of my favorite stores (Rural King).  I must admit, the phone has not been ringing of the hook.

I've read the retirement books and have started my objectives list.  The timeline remains "flexible" (I am the mistress of procrastination, as my loyal readers are well aware).  However, it is starting to snow (again).  My Nook calls and the book is really starting to be interesting (it's a "just for fun" book).  Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Blood pressure this morning:  117/68.  Received the training schedule for Indy from Ellen Kay - I am four weeks behind.  Alas, I supposed today I should at least sign up for the run - that might put some motivation into me.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want."~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes