Retirement continues, mostly with ups! But then there are days when I hold myself tight, want a drink, or all of a sudden a cigarette...what? Where in the world is this coming from? Could it be working on an amazing budget together? Or am I losing my independence? Am I figuring out my reading time? Thank God the kids gave me Audible and I found OverDrive through the library (thanks Pat). I know I miss my coworkers from Aurora, those smiling faces who I would see to say pleasantries to about the simple things in life. People who I respect and appreciated being on a Team with. People who I could listen to and learn from about anything and everything. I miss my drives to and from work, listening to a book and seeing the countryside change seasons. We haven't merged our grocery shopping togetherness method yet; I have work to do on this as Bob wants us to go together.
But then there are the awesome days! When I straighten out a small area around the house (like a shelf, closet or drawer) and I feel amazing when finished. Alternating nights cooking supper is working just fine and I do love to cook and try new recipes, or make old favorites - pot roast in the pressure cooker, egg salad, a ham dinner... I love that I can sit outside at the picnic table and listen to the birds while reading, or think about our garden plots and pots and imagine what we will grow and eat this year. Bob filled my bike tires with air and there's nothing like all of a sudden going on a bike ride, even on a windy day. I've gone to a movie with my sister GET OUT and we want to do that more often. Bob and I went to a senior free movie (first Thursday of the month) and it was fun and we felt like the youngest seniors there. I went as a guest to a Williams Bay Women's Civic League meeting and that was so interesting that I'll probably join in the Fall.
Working on the Dash Diet and it's healthy aspects. Trying for very little caffeine, not always easy. Wearing a knee brace ordered by Dr. Weber to help get me through my first year of retirement without adding knee replacement surgery to my agenda. I'm planning on March 2018 for that, sad to say, but bone on bone is what it is.
So, the beat goes on. One step at a time. I think I want more than I can have right now. I shouldn't "want" as life is good and I have so much to be thankful for. I'm still learning new things and a having good friend going through chemo has made me think and ponder...
I wonder how I ever did it all when I worked, even tho part time. I love taking a nap all of a sudden, getting up early whenever I want, or sleeping in, but our social weekends are still full and it seems it takes us all week to recover and get ready for the next weekend.
Remedies discovered in 2017:
- Drinking dill pickle juice will help cramps (poor Barb L. but thanks for this advice)
- Vitamin E gel caps - burst one with a pin and squeeze gel on an open sore and bandage for healing purposes (per doc I visited and it works great!)
- doTerra deep blue rub or deep blue oil - dab on bruise to bring out the healing quicker (per Sarah and her friend after Sarah thought she broke her toe).
Other special moments these last couple of months: sitting in the front row in church when Eli made his First Communion; seeing Sydney perform in her dance recital; seeing Charley play soccer like a pro; seeing Henry glow after making his best long jump ever; our family game weekend enjoyed by everyone, only missing Ed and Bailee; dog sitting for Bailee when she was such a good girl at our house (minus eating some of Bob's macaroni salad when he left his plate low on the coffee table); short bike rides feel so good; seeing the joy in Hugh's eyes and watching him grow taller and read like a trooper; going to JOSEPH with Raina and Eli; and listening to Crosby say "Mom" over and over again, maybe it means "look" or "watch" or even could it be "grandma" sometimes?; visiting Aunt Nancy on a couple of Fridays and having long fun chats; trying more new recipes; spending 10 days/nights at Wroblewski's while Bob went fishing in Canada; planting a garden plot with Bob; binge Netflix viewing; and of course going to Steel Bridge Songfest again, loving that Construction Crew!
Stay tuned for Schneider Survivor, Schneider picnic, Bob paddle tavern on the river with friends, Aurora Blues Fest and Cheryl's art studio, Summerfest, Music by the Lake, our week at the cottage, and camping at Bluemound State Park - that's just thru July, are you tired yet?
And I should have more books read by now, but then there's Netflix.
12. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (long but loved it and will see this play at the Rep next week)
13. Gardens in the Dunes by Leslie Marmon Silko (grueling, small print and long, but we had a great book discussion)
14. The River at Night by Erica Ferencik, enjoyed the total suspense
15. Time and Time Again by Ben Elton
16. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
17. The Sins of our Fathers by Jeffrey Archer
18. The Girl Before by JP Delaney (suspense!!)
19. Any Minute by Deborah Bedford
20. The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff (great)
21. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
Cheerio 💤
