Retirement Celebration??

I posted the 23 for 2023 recap and the 24 for 2024 posts yesterday. I planned to do a more reflective post on 2023 and more details on the why of my 2024 list items, but I ran out of energy this week. It was getting more and more delayed so it's good enough. I hope you get the gist of it.

This week is far more scheduled than I expected. Hubby needing to go to Asheville to sort out furnace problems was the first wrench. Then I got a volunteer assignment so I have a court appearance on Thursday morning (had to postpone my dentist appointment). We need to take an infant CPR class and there was a spot for this evening -- we took it. Next available was in March. 

I guess all the pushing back ahead of the shower has caught up. I still plan to go to Asheville next week for a couple of days. I'm not sure the "retirement" celebration is happening. I need to think on it some more. My usual ideas all have hitches. 

Massage -- expensive and I'm expecting my monthly (no fun if I feel crappy)

Dinner at Plant -- also expensive and it's cold and dark so I don't know if going out feels fun

New Hike -- it's really cold here and in Asheville -- my toes can't handle outside

Theater -- nothing really playing and crowds with germs

That said, my retirement date is really the NEXT week so I have time -- a lot can change by then.

Today I'm meeting a friend to paint birdhouse gourds. They're grown and dried at the farm I belong to and this should be fun. We planned to do a catchup lunch too, but she needs to babysit her granddaughter so we're just doing the class now.

I'm feeling out of sorts this week. It's probably hormones and less circumstances, but it's bumming me out. I thought I'd feel so much relief and good feelings post baby shower. Everything went really well. Instead I'm grumpy and want to hibernate from everyone. Geez.

It's a long day today with the 2 hour CPR class this evening -- won't be home until 9 o'clock and up early for a morning court hearing. So much for relaxing this week. I'm reminding myself this is a product of a full life and the overwhelm is coming from hormones. Peri is no joke. 

Hope your week is going well. Later gators.

24 for 2024

I like this list. It's a good mix of challenging, fun, just-because and a few oldies that I never completed.

Let's discuss ...

Raised garden bed -- This is the most work, but it has a timeframe so there's hope lol.

Find a Spanish Partner -- most likely to NOT happen. I don't know where to begin unless I hire a tutor and that's not what I mean by a partner.

First up -- Volunteer assignment (got one today) and registered for an infant CPR class for tomorrow evening.

Last up -- Holiday changes, because, duh, the end of the year.

Most fun -- Refuge Coffee 5K with the family

Re-visit:

Raven Cliff Hike

Find a Spanish Partner

Luncheon about books

Sounds like a good year ahead. Later gators.

23 for 2023 Review

 

Here it is ... not a bad completion rate. 18/23 -- this might be my best percentage yet.

What I didn't complete:

HRV>60 -- I'm working on it STILL. A lot is in my control (diet) and some isn't (hormones and such).

Bedroom -- Complicated by hormones and a never-ending cycle.

Hike Raven Cliff -- Waiting to do this with a friend who suggested it. She's canceled twice.

HS Gathering -- At the mercy of others. No one would commit to a date -- very wishy-washy.

Find a Spanish Partner -- I didn't do anything to facilitate this, just wished. Guessed that doesn't help.

Now a bit about the things I did.

First one -- Join the library.

Last one -- LFL

Most proud -- Volunteering

Most fun -- Trip with Deb

I wondered if the list was too easy, but it wasn't. There were some big things on the list and the over all effect was a good year doing things that were meaningful to me. No regrets -- every one held meaning and was worthy of being on the list.

It's a fun reminder to do things throughout the year that take me off autopilot and focus on intentionally creating what I enjoy.

Next up ... 24 for 2024.

Re-entry Week

This is a transition week for me -- still cleaning up post shower today, appointments that I pushed past the shower date (dentist, grooming, volunteer work, etc) and adding a little social time too.

I need a re-entry week. I got that term from an organizer I follow -- she says every big trip needs a re-entry day coming home. No pressure. Time to organize, clean up and also some time for rest. Expectations are lower. The point is to slowly get ready for full-speed again. I needed more than a day -- so I named this week a re-entry week.

Today I'm running all the shower gifts to my son and DIL and grabbing lunch with the kids since 3 of 4 are off today. I'm very glad to have everything out of my office. Hubby is heading to Asheville to get the furnace fixed (hopefully before my trip next week).

Even though I have some tasks to get through this week, I'm very glad to be back to my usual routines. It's been slim pickings and I miss it. 

Part of this week is all the year-in-review stuff and new goals for 2024. I enjoy this part of January. Stay tuned.

I finished this book. I loved it all the way through. The big twist ending wasn't as twisty as I wanted, but it was a very interesting read. I'd recommend it.

Started this last night. Library hold came up. I'm trying to pace the library reads so I don't have 6 at once. WW2 book so it's heavy, but it's been on my list for a long time. 

A little goof this morning cleaning up more from the shower. He's my snack this afternoon.

In other news ... 

I might have a volunteer assignment this week. Waiting to hear more. 

A former foster dog (who we are willed) might come to stay with us for his owner's vacations this year. First time we've been asked. We'll have to see if our schedules coordinate.

Cold snap for GA. I'll need to wait on the hiking club because it's too cold with chilblains. 

Rock painting is coming back in full force. I've really let that go the last 2 months.

Spanish lessons are also gearing up by the end of the month -- Puerto Rico is around the corner.

Garden planning is moving forward too -- nice mix of vegetables and flowers.

Let's get at this week. I'm ready. Later gators.

The Shower - Done & Dusted

It went really, really well. 14 ladies + 6 men who joined at the end. 

The welcome "speech" that had me a little nervous went very smoothly and I think it was my most favorite part of the day. Everyone went around after I finished, introduced themselves and told little stories too. So sweet and felt like a lovely way to celebrate my DIL. 

I'm not going to share people pictures because of these darn bots, but here's the setup. 

Even with my niece, sister and hubby's help the house is in a state of disarray. Only thing on the agenda today is putting things back together and a forever pile of dishes. 

The cake was delicious. The food turned out well. There was really nothing I'd change -- everything went as planned. The weather was beautiful. 

I couldn't sleep well. Tossed and turned most of the night. Too much cake lol?!?!  I only had 2 small pieces. Up at 4 o'clock. Why?!?! Geez. I'm gonna CRASH at some point. 

I hear my sister up. Hope you have a good Sunday. Later gators.

Flowers Galore

So many flowers. There were 2 event planners buying when I was there and the pickings were slimmer than I hoped. Hopefully they last well through Saturday. It took a long time to trim and arrange them. 

Got a free bucket out of it.
Trader Joe's has for anyone
who needs them - FYI.

I finished the flowers, sat down to rest my back and the doorbell rang. More flowers! A rose arrangement for the kids.

I need to adjust the napkin.
It looks random.

I made a really tasty salad dressing for a Kale Caesar Salad with Sweet Potato and Chickpea (HalfBakedHarvest). I'm using spinach instead of kale. The dressing is a faux Caesar with tahini and parm. I had some of it on roasted vegetables and it was awesome. The other salad is a winter pomegranate and pecan green salad from my new DIL. 

Mad dash rush for all the scheduled pickups and drop offs today. It's going to be a crazy ride in the rain.

On top of the long day, I joined in for a virtual garden class at the local farm for garden setup. A lot of good tips -- I'm excited to get started. I wanted to make time for this free class because I'm trying to keep my things in the mix. It was at 7 o'clock so I sat in bed and watched. My book had to wait and that was hard -- it's really, really good! Stay tuned if she lands the ending -- I probably won't read again until Sunday.

Tomorrow is The Day -- eeek! It's finally here. I'm excited, a little nervous, a good deal tired and hopeful this is going to go well. Fingers crossed.

Later gators and bots.

In the Thick of It

It's go-time. Thursday and Friday feel like one continuous day of ALL THE THINGS. The lists are long -- no more practice. It's setup for the real thing. I'm back to a little panic and nervous. Of course. No one actually thought I could easy-breezy this, right?!?!

Still reminding myself to relax on Saturday. Give the welcome "speech," run the shower -- host with intention (thanks, Priya Parker). 

Set up is ready for the parting favors. Adorable, if I do say so myself. Of course, I LOVE little jars and these are so nice. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but they have pretty shape with gold lids. They're Italian so even the words look elegant. I know, just little jars, but they make me happy. It's also a nod to baby food jars.

I tried to make it special. Custom M&Ms with jungle babies (theme). My aunt did the tag art work of Poo Bear and I have a Winnie quote on the back. Tied in a nice gingham bow (thanks to an hour on YouTube). Charming. 

I'm working on my decor today. The biggest is flowers from Trader Joe's. Fingers crossed for a good selection. I have a hair appointment first thing and then off to TJs. I hope I'm not so late to miss the good flowers. If event planners get ahead of me, the selection is picked through. Bad timing on the hair appointment, but it was necessary (complicated schedule).

Weather is a pisser on Friday -- heavy rains and storms all day. That'll jack everything -- cake pick up, quiche pickup, airport pickup. Traffic will be a mess. Nothing we can do about it though. Cold and sunny for the shower. 

That's why I need to get a lot finished today. Friday will be a long and messy day with very little extra time. Making sauces, grilling steak, prepping cheese platters, making salad dressings. The more I get finished today (that can be done), the better.

Wish me luck -- I need it. Later gators.