SHEs Organized

It is really sad to see stuff that I used as a young bride in museums.

Having worked in the antique shop for so many years I definitely KWYM, MT. I saw so many things on a daily basis that took me back. And in all reality that's what lots of customers enjoy most -the reminiscing! I still often see something and wonder, "whatever happened to my.......?" So many things were given to the Goodwill store, or (shudder) trashed when dh, 2 ds, and dd cleaned out our house when it was sold quite suddenly 2 1/2 years ago. Lots were taken to storage and then to an auction. Not having our own auction was not a good thing but we had no way to do it. Still lament that.

Dcampowner told dh earlier, "You're worse than my Dad!" -meaning both of them have to have things to do. DH has puttered all day. He's here now, lunched & is reclining working on a Sudoko. Oh, as I speak there go the eyes. Think it's hard for him being right here watching someone else do his 'job'.

Feel for dd, Harriet. Know when I get bitten (only have 2 right now) they drive me just about insane!

Finally is nice out again. We've had plenty of rain! Supposed to be nice through next Monday.

Got dh's disability papers all made out, dh signed them and took them up to the office. So guess we'll see just how much he gets. Think that's part of my angst right now, is trying to cut back expenses in case our income is cut. We do have retirement but trying to eek that out over the next several years.

Right wrist is really bothering me today and I've had a headache that won't quit. Just took my 2nd round of t ylenol. Can't take ad vil because dr said it was affecting my kidneys.

(((Dee & DH)))) change is always a little stressful. Hang in there!

After the kids left home and finished with college, I convinced DH to quit his job. He had worked shift work for 31 years and neither of us like it. Retirement wasn't an option (unless he worked another 20 years!). It took me almost a year to talk him into quitting. Years later we can look back on it and see It was one of the best decisions of our life. I agree that most males have a huge part of their identity tied to their work. It takes a lot of confidence/courage to turn loose of that identify and create a new/different one.

Today i celebrated LO good hearing report by buying a trampoline with a cage. Now I need to select a spot in the yard for it. It is HEAVY and bulky so I don't want to move it later.....if it can be avoided. I have been walking around the yard evaluating slope of ground, angle of view, height of trees, shade, etc etc, etc.
The good news is there are lots of options to choose from.......
The bad news is there are lots of options to choose from.

Happy birthday, Elizabeth! MMmm..... I love the Olive Garden!

Harriet, dh takes Garlique, one pill a day, I think. The drawback is, yes, sometimes, he does have a little bit of garlic breath. Not always, for some reason. He swears mosquitoes leave him alone b/c of it.
I always get mosquito bites but usually they don't make the huge sores that these last ones did!
There was quite a mixed bag of people at this gathering... we're speculating that perhaps there was some strange blood being spread by mosquitoes that night... Mosquitoes CAN do that, can't they -- spread germs from one person to another?

See -- there's something else I'll probably think I probably shouldn't have said. What if some of those odd people are looking for ways to organize their homes today... * sigh *

My heart just goes out to all of you facing retirement decisions for your dhusbands... b/c I know it is going to be sorta traumatic for ME, too, next year. Of course -- I probably WILL be busy enough that I don't have a lot of time to question my decision or do a lot of "Idle Thinking," to get myself nervous and depressed about it. I know a huge part of my identity is tied into my work, too, and it's just going to be tough to face that change. Especially since I HATE change sooo much!!!
But, as dfriend IRL pointed out, I have given 30 years of my life to the young people of this community, and it is time for me now to concentrate my time on another young person!
I DO hope that there is plenty of time to concentrate on that NOT-SO young person in my household who has been waiting to enjoy my retirement, too.

SOOOO HAPPY for good report for LO!

(((Dee))) hope you feel better by the time you read this!

I enjoy reminiscing in antique stores sometimes, too. Don't ever really want to buy anything, just like to look.

(((Sadie))) Hope the allergy trouble AND the man-drama is better now! Ooohhh... boys & their dads... * sigh *

Waving to ALL... trying to cuop for four pages is so difficult!

* Allergy testing went well, and I did show up allergic to dog dander this time -- a 3 on scale of 1-6. I was a 4 on cat dander, btw. Also allergic to ALL grasses, most weeds & trees, household dust & dust mites, and a few other misc things.
-- Found out my allergy doctor has been taking chemotherapy, but he seems to be doing well, and has a wonderful outlook.
* Mailed all my thank you notes (these were the ones I sent to the hostesses of the baby shower, plus the ones that were remaining from dfil's memorials.)
* Stopped @ daunt's and got bassinet for our house, so dgbaby will have a place to sleep for a few months, anyway. It is sooo pretty. E ddie B auer ... looks kinda like a miniature baby bed, espresso (sp?) colored w/tan-khaki fabric. It's on rollers so I can put it in the den, or our bedroom, or wherever.
-- I'm still kinda scared of the baby, btw... just walking in faith...
* Called place where dh's Father's Day gift came from to report that it was incomplete... said they'd send the rest of the order ASAP
* Called G rand O le O pry to order tickets for future shows... (DH may doubt his freedom in the coming months, but he isn't giving up entirely!)

I need to do some laundry.

Just spent the last 40 minutes talking with ddfriend in Indiana (she's the wife of our pastor from many, many years ago -the ones we went to see when we saw you in Indiana, Indiana.) What a joy it was to talk with her again. She was mainly calling to check up on dh. We plan to go there at some point this year and go to "Amish country" in northern Indiana with them. His official retire date is August 31st (he's executive minister for Amer Baptist Churches in IN/KY) Can't wait to spend time with them again. DH will probably have more time this year by the looks of things.

He's out mowing our lawn now. At least our lawns aren't too big. But he's probably doing our neighbor's too. He must have dozed at least 5 minutes after all!

Have no idea what to have for dinner. Maybe it'll be whatever is on the menu. (And I'm the one who has been discouraging going out).

Think my headache is finally abating. Should go look for my wrist brace so I can wear it to bed tonight. Know I've seen it -but where?

It's interesting to read all the different views on retirement. DH and I look forward to it and hope to travel around the country perhaps, like the Emptynesters have done. Have suggested to our kids that we may just live in a camper someday and show up at random times in their driveway...they said we should call first!

Cathyy--Each of you having your own office sounds great. DH and I found that we often ended up in different rooms and just came together at mealtime! Whatever happens, we sure did enjoy the year he had off work.

Grandchildren...that's another thing to look forward to. Life is good!

Home from work - I was moderately productive and got the return that's due on June 30 finished. Need to go back in on Monday to try to wrap up this 1040 for review.

I'm heading back out in a little less than two hours to birthday dinner for dfriend. Should try to round up a small gift to take along. Also, I think she can take the baby gift that I have and drop it off for me.

Tomorrow I have an appt at the new house, the rescheduled appt for my dmom and an evening meeting in addition to schlepping ds to work and home again. I need to get him driving to work - maybe if I run late tomorrow he's be more willing to drive himself?

Ddogs are starving...need to get them fed.

Dh is sliding into retirement and he has two new hobbies. One is exercise (yesterday he started at 6:45 and when I left at 8:45 he was still doing floor exercises.) The other is Net fl ix, watching a minimum of 3 shows a day (he watches 1 60min or 2 30 min shows while on the exercise bike and then at least 2 60 min shows with me each evening, then sometimes a movie.) This is from someone who never watched tv since childhood.

Both are affordable (the 'tv' is $8/month and we already had the exercise bike.)

We did our walk for the mail so I got two exercise sessions in today. Good thing because I'm still having trouble cutting back food although my choices are much more healthy today than yesterday.

DDogs are starving.....
having trouble cutting back food .....

I'm in same place too. Of course, it's not helping that I'm about to take the last pan of cookies out of the oven. The house smells woooonderful!

and

Church supper in an hour.....where everything always taste sooo good.

Why is the saying "if you can't beat em, join em" running through my mind?

I don't think my dh will retire until he's on his last legs and he can't still call up clients. Because he's commission based, we always vacation on Memorial day week, when he can leave for a week and only be out of the office 4 days. I could retire tomorrow and be happy. The drop in our income would be negligible in some ways - I fully fund my retirement plan and end up with just spending money for myself - but that means I don't have to justify to dh what I do with it, which is nice.

I'd retire tomorrow, but dh thinks I should work until the kids are through college - that would be three more years. If they aren't done then, I'm figuring it's not my problem at that point!

I am headed out of payroll (or rather non-payingroll right now). I have printed out stuff for the board meeting tonight. I think I will run by the house and shower and do a few other things so I won't have to after the meeting, when I would rather go to bed. My house should be clean (thanks to the maids) and cool (thanks to swamp cooler repairperson). See everyone tomorrow.