Friday the 24th

[Sojourner]

Today, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...and that's it! My illustrious so-called career comes to an end, and the new adventure begins. I'm having much more of a difficult time getting my mind, emotions, and physical body in sync about it than I ever anticipated. I've always thought that it would be one big "WOO-HOO! SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!" but it turns out it's much more complicated than that. I've had panic attacks, I've been running around like crazy tying up loose ends at work (which I know no one will give a hill of beans about), I've been euphoric, I've been depressed. Quite a ride!

I think I will just sit quietly here in the corner with my bagel and think about it. Thursday the REAL work begins as the downsizing takes on urgency...the road beckons!

[Colliemom]

Good Morning Megan and all who follow,

Thanks for starting the Coffee this morning Megan. So nice when somebody else gets it going. I know how you feel about the "job seperation" especially from the school. When somethng has been part of your life for so long, you become used to that routine, the people you work with etc. And then one day it's all over and you are kind of at loose ends. Yu find you miss the people you work with, you miss the routine of your day. My mom had the same problem when we moved up here after working in schools for 17 years. So she and my dad would go back downstate once in awhile and visit with friends and stop by the school and see everybody etc. Gradually as time went on they didn't go as much. But I want to congratulate you on retiring and starting a "new life" on the road. Once you get busy starting to "unstuff" and spring starts moving in, that urge to hit the road is going to get stronger and you will be off and enjoying new adventures. That open road has been calling to me a lot of late too.

As for me, I am off to the gym this morning, with stops at bank, animal control office to get my dog's their annual licenses, and then to store after gym. Not sure where the afternoon is going to lead yet. We are having some snow here today, but not a lot. Only supposed to get around 1-2, maybe a bit more. The mid section of the state is getting hit pretty hard. Schools closed all over. It's very fine and very wet, so doesn't accumulate fast when it's like that.

Spring cleaning is done I am happy to report . House looks so nice and clean and sparkly. So now I am getting ready to start making another sign. May get into that this afternoon. Need to cut the board down to size and run the sandpaper over it a bit. I want to leave it weathered looking, so don't sand too much. Just enought to smooth it down a bit. Makes painting the lettering a bit easier. So that will be another nice little project now that I have kind of figured out how I am going to do it.

Everyone have a wonderful day. If you are dreaming of hitting the road soon, that time will come. If you are traveling toward TX for the big GTG or just traveling, be safe. If having health issues, know this too shall pass. Keep chugging and smiling

[txyellowrose]

Good morning!

Megan, congratulations on your upcoming retirement! All those emotions you described are ones I experienced when transitioning into the full-timing life. Just go with the flow and soon you'll be on the road having new adventures.

Doesn't a clean and sparkly home feel good, Sue? Yep, indeed it does! Sounds like you've got a good day planned.

Here in NJ it is cooler with a light rain and more to come with the winds kicking up later tonight and tomorrow. Oh goodie! Not sure where the day will head for me so far. Hence, I'm going with the flow! I was awake and up about an hour before my 6 AM alarm again this morning, and have been "playing" with Photobucket images and revising text for the Web site I'm working on. Funny how I have swirling thoughts/text, so to speak in my head for days without seeming to be able to sit at the keyboard and organize them into coherency. Then, all of a sudden - whoosh! And there ya go!

With today's weather outlook, perhaps today is a good day for creative indoor activities. Of course, that is subject to change depending on what develops around the property today.

Have a groovy Friday, everyone!

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING ALL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4p-OtkMk68
That is a link to yesterday's live den cam footage of Jewel Bear Mama and her two little cubs---it's an especially cute footage! The cubs are now about 4 weeks old, and their eyes will be opening up soon.

Where on earth did February go?? It is so unfair that time speeds up as we have more and more birthdays----totally unfair!

The kids called me last night, and they are planning to come over here tomorrow and go to see the Doobie brothers with me, as we did a couple of weeks ago with Foreigner. Our Season's passes allow us free entry, so it will cost us just the cab ride there and then home from the Orena Bar afterwards. They also suggested I go to St. Cloud today to let the dogs get in some much-needed freedom and running. I can also do some grocery shopping at Winn Dixie tomorrow and then fill up my gas tank with my Win Dixie gas price discount card----I think I am up to about 50 cents per gallon, so that will be a help.

Sorry those at Ocala that I won't be there this weekend, but I have been looking foward to seeing the Doobies, and to spend time with my son and his wife is a neat thing for me. I would so love to see Sarah's new rig! And, of course, all you other people camping there and meeting there. When I get back home, the kids are gone for another half year. Thanks, Linda and Sandy, for the ride offer, but I feel compelled to stay right here at this point. When my guts are feeling better, I am sure I will feel more like traveling again. A rider or driver in adult pampers ain't no thing to mess with!

Molly goes to the vet at 10:00 this morning for Rabies shot and exam and anal gland cleaning-out----then we will all be off to St. Cloud for overnight.

CONGRATS on your retirement, Megan! This June will be second year with no work routine to pattern my life and run it, basically. I panicked at first when September rolled around and I had no need to set an alarm clock and no place I had to be, and then I revelled in it, and have ever since! Especially now that I know I am not forced to be living under an overpass in a tent eating Ramen noodles! I am actually survivng, and having fun to boot, on my meager SS and retirement income! You, too, will get used to things after your first few months or even a year, perhaps.

Happy Friday to all!

[Redetotry]

Spring didn't last long, yesterday it was 72 but the wind changed to the north over night with winds to be 20-30 mph though out the day and only around forty. I'm thinking today will be a baking day, I've been hungry for scones. Yesterday I was listening to a book on tape and they were describing hot scones fresh from the oven served with butter, homemade raspberry jelly & clotted cream, I was drooling. I will forgo the clotted cream as it is really expensive plus I like it so much would eat way too much.

So glad to see Sarah post but sorry the experience of getting Magic has been so frustrating. Hopefully they will find the problem and she can soon relax and enjoy.

I made myself some business cards yesterday and was surprised that I was able to print them out right on the first try, front and back! I wanted to put a logo on but that was beyond me using Microsoft Word for Mac.

Congratulations Megan you will soon be so happy, like the first morning you don't have to get up at a certain time.

[longdog2]

Sojourner
Sounds like you might be free to make a run down to Mustang Island this weekend to meet some of the forum gang. Check out the Texas GTG post.

[Bethers]

Sojourner
Sounds like you might be free to make a run down to Mustang Island this weekend to meet some of the forum gang. Check out the Texas GTG post.

What a great idea. Megan, we'd be more than happy to help with all those emotions you're feeling. Would love to have you join us - for any part of the week we'll be there!

Morning all - windy as all get out here - wind chimes going non-stop. Better today than next week with the gtg going on. So far not seeing any call for wind then. Crossing fingers about that. Little wind, ok, this big wind, nope, not during our gtg.

Have a great day all.

[JudyJB]

Stayed home today to get ready for the realtors who are coming tomorrow to take pictures for my condo listing. Actually, I have been up since 9:00 am, but been sorting and cleaning. (I really enjoy sleeping in, so if you see me posting at 6:00 am, you will know I didn't go to sleep yet.)

Had one plastic bin of stuff spread all over my living room. Now, stuff that belongs there is put back in and I have two piles of stuff I need to put elsewhere. Got four more bins in my second bedroom of really old family stuff, but will deal with them tomorrow. I also vacuumed my den and cleaned off the desk. Need to scan a bunch of my old baby photos, so a new stack is growing!! Can't win.

After I finish my bagel, I will do some scanning and then hit the dreaded basement--more vacuuming and three clothing moving boxes to cut up and trash. Whew.

This place STILL really needs dusting and things like window sills are horrible, but hopefully those won't show in photos. I will be so glad to be rid of stuff and get this sold.

[sharon]

Well, it's an hour past morning here, but I've been really really busy this morning!! It's a gorgeous gorgeous day here in SoCal! Probably around 80, just a slight breeze and the reason I live here. Going to be back down into the mid 60's this weekend, so I'm really enjoying the weather today. Figured it would drop since I have a M/C ride planned for tomorrow!

Picked the car up at the rv place today and towed it home with the truck. What a pain to get ready for towing, nothing like the old Liberty. I can see right now that I'm going to be down at the auto shop to have a battery dis-connect switch put in. My old liberty didn't have to have the battery dis-connected to tow, plus the hood had a thingy (sorry, CRS today) on it that basically raised the hood with no effort. This one doesn't and the hood is heavy, plus I'm standing in the middle of the tow bar and all the safety chains and light cord trying to get it up and put the rod in place to hold it up. I know, someone throw me a little cheese to go with my whine!! But at least this much is done in prep to get on the road and she has plates on her so I'm finally legal!

Before I went to pick up the car I had a Dr.'s appt and was there for over an hour. I now have in my hot little hand referrals for stress test, colonoscopy, upper GI scope, chest ex-ray, mamo, pap and blood tests. Plus, my daughter insisted I start juicing which thrilled my doc to no end. He's big on that kind of stuff. The last time I juiced was for Jack and I almost killed him. He was dealing with chemo and I thought this would really help his energy....all I did was raise his potassium level so high the Dr almost had a heart attack!! My sweetie looked at me and in all seriousness said " well, guess I don't have to worry about the cancer killing me, you're going to take care of that!" That was the end of my juicing days and the juicer has sat in the cabinet taking up room ever since.

Vickie, sure do like your avatar! This morning it was a trailer...

Yay Megan! Retirement is sooo much fun as long as you have a plan and it sounds like you do!
Guess that's all from me today, hope everyone has a great rest of the day. I'm sure hating to miss the Tx GTG, it's just killing me that I can't be there!! So many of my favoritist peoples there! Oh well, guess I can't make all of them, but I sure would like to try!

[Acadianmom]

Sharon, I was just thinking now that you have that thing ready to tow it's about time to head back east.

Megan, congratulations on your retirement. It takes some getting use to but now all I miss are the people. We are having our annual GTG tonight to visit and eat. Our office was closed so we all went different places. Some had to find another job and some retired. We knew it was coming for over a year. I was so wound up by the end trying to keep things going and close the office I didn't want another job. Now someone needs to wind me up again. I got so much more done when I was working. I always think I can do it tomorrow and them something better to do comes along.

I did make it to Walmart before 10:00. They weren't very busy so thought it would be a good time to unload the change out of my purse at the change machine. WRONG! I only got about $7 in it and it jammed. I had to stand around for 30 minutes waiting for them to get my money and I was in a hurry. Then another 20 minutes to check out. They have at least 25 lanes and 5 might be open.

Martha