What the Heck Do I Do NOW?

I know when I retired some time ago I would start writing again and try to magically reincarnate all the writing talent that I once had. Well, 1+ years has slipped away and I still haven't penned the great American novel, nor have I accomplished much other than becoming "Happy". But I can tell you that Happy is highly under rated; and after going through the motions of day-to-day activities of daily life just to make it to the finish line (retirement), Happy is the feeling I get everyday when I can disregard yesterday's plans for today and make up "plans" as I go along.

Whoa, I hear you thinking, that sounds too much like the sort of crap that happened right before you retired, when you worked for the totally incompetent nimnals--the ones you said were over employed, over compensated, and under educated. The difference between the two is the former gives me a thrill and makes my heart flutter (like the Disney-I'm-too-excited-to-sleep); and the later just gave me heartburn!

I told a recently retired friend I was just "happy" and asked if she found herself forgetting the names of people with whom she had worked. "Oh, Thank God", she exclaimed. "I thought I was losing it". I told her that I couldn't even remember the name of the jack wagon I worked for right before I retired--only his nickname--"Mr. Roboto". All I could remember that he had a major in Weather, his eyes seemed to be permanently glued to his Blackberry, and he had a wide yellow streak on his back that was normally visible because he was always trying to run away. We laughed! She told me she avoided someone in Safeway, because she couldn't remember if the man was a former co-worker or her insurance agent!

Anyway, until I get used to this "happy" thing, I am just going to continue to take it slow, one day at a time, and see how tomorrow pans out.

I thought he said, "Corn," damnit!

I have had a lot of time to muse lately, with not having any work to do at work, (that is a subject for another post), and I started thinking about the time one of my son's friends was facing eminent posting to Iraq. Knowing the young man for a long time, I asked him what, if anything, I should send to him once he was posted. Now, remembering that there had been a lot of wine and beer consumed by the lot along with a pretty extensive dinner, I thought I heard him say, "If you send my anything, send me corn." Okay, I said a walked away.

The look on my son's face showed his surprised and incredulity. Will you really? he asked. Of course, I said. He's going overseas. I don't know why he wants it, but I will send as much as he wants. My son shook his head, walked away and then turned. How are you going to get it? I'll go to the store and buy a case and ship it that way, I said.

Why a case, my son asked. It will ship better that way. Okay he said.

The next morning at breakfast I told my husband to make a post-it note to remind me to buy corn for my son's friend. Why corn my husband asked. It's what he wants me to send to him. Sitting at the table, my son spit out his breakfast and started laughing. Mom, he said, he said he wanted you to send him PORN!

Oh, I said, he will just have to use his imagination.

Oh Crap -- There Goes the Bathroom

Maybe the title is redundant. Well, it finally happened. After 27 years, the shower in our bathroom started leaking--about 6 months before we planned our all out reconnaissance and assault on the bathroom. After considerable discussion (code word for bitching), hubby took the old sledge to the walls, and presto, freaking dust all over the house again!

I was hoping to hold out and win HGTV's ugliest bathroom contest, but I have seen others that would win hands down. My title was, "Help, my bathroom's caught in the eighties!" Guess it wasn't catchy enough.

The interesting part of the demolition is that the foundation for the huge Roman tub that has been housing all the paper products that Costco has to offer, showed no sign of "The Rot". Even the shower that leaked must have just sprung the leak. Now the fun starts in wrangling and cajoling about tile, tub, counter tops, windows, paint colors, shower panels. I have an idea what I would like to have, now it's just a matter of designing for the sexes. (Meaning--I do NOT want a shower that looks like a car wash.)

It's so much fun, I think if we survive this one we are good to reach our 50th!

Approaching the Solstice

So far, Spring took it's damn sweet time sprunging, but it meant for a good opportunity for moving plants around the garden, letting the Nasty Urshums get out of control, and watching the Red Tail hawk pick off a squirrel or two (bon voyage peanut rodents). It will be a bounty year for citrus, and the English roses are so pretty they make my heart ache.

I had time to re-string my favorite wind chimes, so the recent winds have reminded me that sitting a spell to do something I want to do is not frivolous. I have been tracking the length of the days like a jealous lover. At least, as the days get shorter, the light will come off the fore end, and I will still be able to play outside until dark.

The solstice will be the second part of the year, and I know that the ebbing of the sun will give lots more opportunity for family and friend time.

A time honored tradition in the South is to make a Spring change out of curtains and pillows--something that I have wanted to do for years, but never had time; but this Springs slow start gave me the chance to sew, sew, sew--valances and pillows, bun warmers and bags, little girl frocks, and jammies.

The jam is made--strawberry, apricot-- just waiting for the blackberries, and that's done too. So much that my friends are exchanging jars and lining up like it's a fire sale at Bon Marche. Joyeux Printemps!

People Watching and Musings

So many thoughts so little time:

Like the girl in the George Clooney (Up in the AIR), are most young girls marrying out of desperation and because they think "he'll work"? Seems like it.

When does a former spouse become a "friend"? Is it a case of disassociation or pure denial?

Do all the people currently basing public pensions understand what the term "dog pile" means?

Can snappishness and selfishness be seen under black light? If so, each young man should carry one and wave it like a cross? It would save a lot of heartache.

During the demonizing of religion, are people aware of their own sanctimonious behavior toward their own pursuits and needs?

What caused the young squirrel to fall out of the tree and crash on the stone wall?

How many peonies this year and how many apricots?

If the gov takes 10%+ how many leave and how fast? Book your appointment NOW!

How long is too long to wait for having children. Babies at 40? Makes me tired.

If I finish my new mohair scarf, will it still be chilly enough in the morning to wear?

What's the best age for a facelift? What's this "growing into it" crap?

Do hypocondriacs have more fun or just more drugs? Maybe one induces the other--without guilt!

To Newport and Beyond

It has been a busy month. I spent two weeks of trying out retirement, just to see if the effects of winter and early spring weather could be minimized with an infusion of sunshine and golf. My Dog, I think I can do this. It was great to slip away and let the garden and house take care of itself on auto-pilot and return to a color burst of tulips, daffs, amaryllis, lavender, and Ranunculus. The roses are going crazy and blooms should be here withing two weeks.

Easter was a riot. When I told a co-worker that I had overdosed on peeps. She asked me how many came for dinner. Oh, Peeps! What a difference a generation can make. Everyone ate the heads off the bunny cookies with the weird blue eyes; and the four small ones scrambling for plastic eggs just before the cloudburst reminded me of days long gone by when the whole neighborhood hunted (haunted) the greenbelt for surprises. After seeing a local tele stations Egg-Cam, I now have a different perspective!

The introduction of new relationships this year made me realize that the year, although filled with emotional chaos, has been for the best. For the first time, I had people hop in to help without being asked, and received unsolicited affection from people I barely knew.

The dinner (unorthodox at least) made everyone happy (2-86) and even Mimi said that she thought things were working out for the best. As usual, I told her that it wasn't mine to say or determine, and that things can change in a blink of an eye.

Anyway, Papa found that a two year old can be very wise and that eating earlier in the day allows a lot of time for evening snacks.

Now, this is cool. It must be the Full Moon

With the arrival of what has been our brightest moon of the year, so has the Sun! Yesterday, I started the big dig for the roses and think that I will either need to procure help from the family or take out my handy mattock (which scares the begeeus out of the men folk), and attack the area my self.

The house and garden are starting to look like I am preparing for a siege. Eight huge bags of potting soil, bags of chicken manure, boxes of summer bulbs, solar light, and zip lock packages of seeds, make it appear that I am ready when the klaxon goes off. Am I ever! The bulbs go into pots this morning and the seeds will have to wait a week. Last year, the greatest success I had with beans was when I put a bag of soil in the wheelbarrow and dumped in a package of seeds!

Trucking down the stairs on my way to V-8 and tea, I came eyeball to eyeball with last years visitors. The Sun must be enticing everyone, even the Duh are back; and they look like they are from one of last year's broods. They are both really moving on collecting sticks and building a nest; and if this is for real, we should have little Duh babies March.

Can I call them Grandduh?