A couple pretty shots of the golf course.  

Today it is still cold, but at least it is above 32 and sunny.  So, I talked DH in to a brisk walk at 5:30 when I log out.  He agreed.  I am trying to encourage and be supportive, but not push him into walking or trying to be healthy.  He has to decide to do it.  

During the last year I was not blogging, his health was OK, nothing earth shattering...but he has deteriorated in terms of his back pain.  Other areas he seems to be improving, or doing ok, but his back bothers him and makes him depressed.  

For me, when I get depressed, part of my therapy is exercise.  Including yoga.  But DH is older than I, so I cannot imagine how hard constant pain must be.  I do know one thing, though, whether it is constant physical pain or mental pain/sadness, one way to alleviate that is to get our mind on other things.  Even as minor as meditation.  But for me, walking, esp outside is helpful.  If I walk alone, I listen to music or book or podcast.  If I walk on my treadmill, I watch TV.  But my preference is out hiking a beautiful trail.

I am so grateful for my yoga instructor.  She continued to keep our yoga class going each week during the pandemic - on zoom.  So, I adjusted to doing yoga in my spare room twice a week, alone on zoom and I got really used to it and looked forward to it.  We did this for a year and a half!  We just started back in class in October.  So crazy.  I go Mondays and Thursdays after work.  I have just enough time with my current schedule, to log off and run out the door - but it works out.

Well, we are having left over vegetable beef soup for dinner after our walk.  Have a great Tuesday night!

 

Hello it's friday!

I have been busy working like crazy in my yard - I LOVE it.  Love being outside.  During the last couple years I have frantically downsized, but during this quarantine I actually thought to myself yesterday how grateful I am to have a nice big (1 acre) yard.

My biggest task of the past week was moving 7 large bushes out of my sister in law's yard.  She is making her yard less maintenance and I seem to be doing the opposite.

Here are four.  The middle forsythia was already there.  Not a place I would have chosen.  But I keep it pretty trimmed.  So, I figure what is 4 more?  I like how it softens the yard and make a welcoming look.  I also planted 2 (1 each side) of driveway and couple flanking my barn in the back yard.  So I guess its closer to 10.  Only 7 large ones tho, 3 small ones.

My azalea.  I also have started my veggies.  The square ones mostly planted.  I have seeds and plants I can fill in, I am staging the planting so that they are ready at stages.  The round ones will be 5 nice tomato plants.  2 cherry tomatoes will be in pots on the deck.

Well today it is cold and rainy.  So I cleaned the house.  Made DH help me.  I hope you all are staying well and finding nurturing things to do for yourself.  I signed up for an online yoga class and have been doing a few times a week.  It is good.  

Oh, my most exciting news...I think I have a job!  Working from home.  Stay tuned for more on that later.  Ta ta.

Post Christmas, Pre New Years

Had DH family (mom and dad, sister/BIL, 2 brothers) Christmas meal Saturday.  We had roast pork and ham.  Then we all split up the sides.  DH mom has said she is not doing the cooking anymore.  I can understand - she is 85 this March!  So, sister in law did the 2 meats and I did scalloped potatoes, Waldorf salad and deviled eggs.  The potatoes tasted fine, had a slight sweet smell to them...I did not realize until today that I had used unsweetened but vanilla almond milk.  Haha, what an idiot!  Oh, well I am not sure anyone really noticed.  We had so much yummy stuff.  I also did a version just for me with dairy free cheese substitute.  I just had some for lunch - pretty good.

Today I finished moving the dirt (and bulbs) from my raised flower bed that we had to move for the new fence we are having built.  Then I raked a bunch of wet leaves from our little yard and piled them on top of the beds (I have 3) to help insulate the bulbs and prevent weeds.  It was good the leaves were wet, hopefully they will stay on the beds and not blow off.  Bad because they were hard to rake!  It has turned cool here...and windy!  But still not supposed to get too cold yet this week.  That is good news, I am hiking 13 miles New Years Day!

Then I came inside and cleaned the house.  Did couple loads of laundry.  The dogs were running around and now they are napping.  DH is playing golf with his cousin.  I declined since I am doing yoga tonight.  I played DH and one of his brothers Friday at a challenging course 45 min away.  It was nice and I did ok.

My yoga instructor is out of town for 2 weeks, so I am taking advantage of a $21 for 21 days unlimited yoga...the only problem is I have to drive 30 miles.  Oh well, the price we pay for living in the boonies.

I am sitting here enjoying the view of my living room picture gallery.  Maybe I have posted before, but just in case.  Here is before:

Here is after.  I wanted to lighten up the living room.  I am sure the deer head is not everyone's cup of tea.  But it is DH and he is proud of his hunting and enjoys outdoor stuff.  He does not get to display most of his rustic, antique and old-timey stuff, so I give him the deer head in the living room.  It happens to go with our other rustic themed pictures. 

Have a great week and if I don't make it back here.  Have a Happy New Year.  Quiet night at home as usual for DH and I.  We are going to enjoy nachos and wings.  I will go to bed early for my long day of hiking NYD.

Salad Day

Just took a break with a friend at work and there was a bunch of left over Greek salad/hummus in the break room - score!  The food was from Zoe's and I just love their Greek dressing!  It had lettuce, tomatoes, diced red onion, feta cheese and Kalamata olives.  So good.

Thursday, DH had an appointment in the city early Friday.  So his folks were going to run by and feed the dogs for us, he went to see Granny and I met him over there on my way out of town - to home.  We visited with her an hour and he went on north and I went on south.  He got home Friday after apt and playing golf with is brother.  I enjoyed my house just me and the dogs.  Was nice.  We watched TV in bed!

Then Saturday I went to my other friend who passed from cancer (in August) - to his celebration of life.  It was fun driving up with and visiting with my sister.  We took DH convertible.  We also got to see lots of our friends, but it was really draining.

Maybe that is why I am just feeling out of sorts.  Sluggish and lethargic.  Plus I am puffy and yucky from eating bad.  I am starting back over on the no sugar thing.  I had gone with out eating red met until Saturday on the way home I stopped for a snack and ended up eating fast food, yuck.  So starting over there too.  Had not eaten red meat for almost a month.  I don't know why I am having so much problem right now eating for wellness.  I went to yoga last night, other than walking and being really busy doing projects around the house (DH mowed without me Saturday - surprised me so much!) I had not worked out officially since last wed yoga - so I went last night and sweated like crazy - then came home - had a light meal and watched tv show - then bed.  I am tired of this schedule, in 3 more weeks I will give my 2 week notice - so 5 more weeks in total.

At least it is still in the 90's and hot!  It was good weather to stay in and organize...last weekend I organized and cleaned out my spice cabinet.  This weekend I cleaned out and scoured the freezer part of the fridge - I need to do free standing freezer next weekend.  And we have a nice 8 by 8 ish storage closet off our garage - I cleaned that out, organized and swept the floor/shelves and re-arranged.  Got rid of a carload of knick knacks...and DH is clearing out his giant collection of encyclopedias so we can offer then for sale at his sister's store and empty out several of our bookcases.  We looked at the small yard house(new house) once again and decided that the storage was just so lacking - we could not do it.  So, we are staying in our current house.  But, DH agreed that we could continue to purge.  If we actually considered this house - we must both be in agreement that we could do with less.  So, I am going to continue to pare down excess and DH agreed, because someday we will want to move and find house with smaller yard (and probably less storage).  Mainly right now, I get tired of cleaning around stuff!

And for my own part...I am going to store nothing in our attic except 4 Christmas and 2 fall totes.  I told DH I was purging down so much, that if/when we do move, I will easily be able to quickly look and decide what I do NOT need to keep.  Experience, not things is my mantra. 

I do not regret that I plan to finish a few cheap money/labor intensive projects around my house that we will get to enjoy and that will make our house and yard look great. 

Oh, I forgot to tell this...my friend at work brought me a bag full of pears.  They are really delicious green pears with a pretty thick skin.  I got them all up and put in bags in my freezer for smoothies because they are pretty small just to try to halve.  I made DH and I pear and spinach smoothies and my little $80 bullet from Walmart did great!  We did not detect the skins or the spinach.  I was very happy with my inexpensive blender. 

Then, Monday we had peach, apple and banana smoothies and they were yummy.  I am going to get another giant supply of apples this week and so I wanted my apples still in the freezer used up.  Hope you are reaping some great produce as this harvest moon approaches!

August is out of here

Can't believe that August is almost over.  This summer has flown by.  I guess that happens when you are really busy.  I made it through yoga class last night even though my friend, T was having leg pain and didn't make it.  She is having bad Charlie-horse type cramping pain and has for a while!  Poor T, I hope she can get some answers and find some relief.

I usually treat myself to a bought smoothie Wednesdays after I do yoga.  I make my own on Tues night and most days at noon, that is all I have - smoothie for lunch.  I am tired just thinking about tomorrow - I am going home tonight, unpack and do load of laundry, sleep in my own bed...then tomorrow I ride back up here with my sister for her to visit our granny and see aunt/uncle.  My sister is fixing up aunt/uncle with an I've-fallen-and-can't-get-up button - she works for one of these companies in neighboring state and can monitor it herself.  My granny has one too.

I noticed yesterday when looking at my granny's bank account that she has a large debit coming out of her checking - I called her to let her know we are coming noonish Friday to visit and she said we would talk about the transaction I referenced tomorrow.  I think she must have put down a deposit to move closer to her daughter and probably dreads telling me because she knows that my husband and I will do most of the work moving her - but I just want her to be happy.  She will second guess and feel like she has picked lesser of two evils - but when we moved her up here 5 years ago - who would have guessed she would arrive and fly past 100 with flying colors?!  Moving her where we did was the best choice at that time.  Moving again is part of life - we will get it done.  I will assure of all these things.  Of course, we would prefer she move south to be closer to us - but I understand she wants to be near her daughter/my aunt.  If my grandmother outlives her daughter, she will move to our state.

Anyway.  DH put together the last piece of furniture I bought - a cute white coffee table with storage.  He said it was like 25 pieces to put together.  And he discovered the drawer bottoms were missing!  UGH.  I sent an email this morning to Wayfair and supposedly they will send the missing panels.  I will let you know.

I will be back home Sat evening.  While we are up here, my sister and I are having a nice meal at our favorite shopping area in the city with a couple of my girlfriends who were planning to come down this weekend - but ended up having to cancel because T has an event Saturday with charity she is involved with.  So, I said I would come to them.  Now I dread it because I am so tired.

I think the fatigue I am feeling lately is a combination of my driving and working in the city away from DH now for the entire summer, along with some extra running around I have done because of my 2 classmates dying.  So, I am trying to get extra rest and eat well.  Limit my caffeine and junk - eat lots of colorful veggies and fruit.  Lean meat.  No sugar added smoothies.  I have about 6 more weeks and then I will have some much needed downtime. 

DH and I were thinking of going somewhere in Oct.  But I am leaning toward not doing much for Oct and Nov, I need to rest. 

I hope all of you are looking forward to a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

So I feel like I am trying to get sick.  My throat is hurting and so I am trying to stay hydrated with water and tea and taking my vitamin C.  Could be allergies?  I can add muscle soreness to my issues today, after attempting yoga last night at 7pm.  My ankle did ok, after I realized I cannot do updog and careful on down dog.  But, I did get some good stretching and was good for me to practice yesterday.  I am going to go again today I think.  I think my aunt truly does not mind me being around, I just try to spend most of my day at work/work out and have just minimal time in evenings to visit, watch a show and then get to bed, so as to minimize my interruption of her daily life. 
She and I enjoy watching a show here and there on Netflix.  I try to get to bed early, but having a bit of a hard time sleeping on this sofa bed.  It will either get easier, or I will become incapacitated, lol. 
DH is riding with his sister to their cousin, who is an avid gardener.  She is thinking out a bunch of plants/flowers.  So I told DH, bring whatever back!  We will plant it!
Severe weather crazy in the Midwest.  Prayers to those affected by storms, rain, flood, tornadoes.  Family in Arizona and Colorado posting about snow.  Crazy.
My friend with kidney cancer has bilateral pneumonia.  She is having quite a heck of a time.  My heart goes out to her and people with health challenges.

Work

I started back at my work.  Just for a few months.  I really was curious to see if it was something we could work out a compromise on.  DH agreed reluctantly.  I spent the weekend getting stuff ready and today at work, getting started back on computer/system/time keeping, etc.  It is fun seeing my colleagues again. 

I am 3.5 hours away from retirement home.  I will stay the week with my aunt and go home weekends.  Leaving Monday afternoon (I had a medical test that morning - everything is fine, all clear!).  Was hard to leave DH and the dogs, my adorable house.  At least it is rainy and cold.

So, here I am.  Very mixed emotions.  My foot is doing much better.  I am going to go to yoga tonight at my old yoga studio in the city.  I may have to take it easy on ankle related movement.

Hope you are having a great week.  More later.

Company Coming

Today is Saturday.  I have my girlfriend, T coming.  She is from the city where we used to meet.  We met over a mutual love of coffee, about 15 years ago.  Her DH also rode motorcycles, and the 4 of us went on a few rides together.  Then in 2009 I got my license and my own bike.  T got her license and her bike a few years ago.  I have not told T I have my bike listed for sale.

She was going to come down the weekend of my birthday, last weekend, but she had to make up for some time away from work.  She had the flue bad enough, she had to go the er.

I look forward to talking to her about that and about yoga.  We started yoga together about 7 years ago.  I also look forward to talking about doing a yoga retreat next year.  And going back to the city first week of April and going to our old yoga studio together.  I am glad I am skipping yoga today, my shoulder continues to be really persistent in giving me pain and numbness.  I have been the to chiro twice, and will go couple more times before our road trip next week.

Another thing I look forward to is talking to her about what I am struggling with a little bit.  I will talk about it here in the future.  I have not talked to another person, except my sister.  This is sort of related to me having my bike listed for sale.  I want to continue to condense our "stuff", liquidate and focus on having some fun experiences.  Sometimes I feel like DH is with me, sometimes I feel like he wants other things.

He did dig deep and agree to list some extra things, like some expensive watches, a couple sets of gold clubs and an expensive coat.  But he continues to shop and it makes me feel very uncomfortable.  If he is just shopping to curate and condense, I am ok.  If he is not being honest about just condensing what we have and curating, but continues to aimlessly shop we will have a big problem.  Even doing that, frustrates me because he shows no such enthusiasm for doing things, improving his health or home related stuff.  I shop too, but I have the same enthusiasm for home projects, working in the yard, setting up our garden, hiking, crocheting, yoga, etc.

We both spend too much time on our phones!  Lol.  Well, I do have to remember that things don't change overnight.  This is a big adjustment and I am trying to be patient for one year.

What are you all struggling with?  Anything you can related to?

Monday Muscle Pain

Went to yoga tonight, still difficult because if my sinuses,  but felt good.   I cannot do much balancing for sure.  My head is still a bit stopped up.

We are in (another winter weather advisory) for tomorrow night.  At least it is not like the winter they are having back in the city.   But I am ready for spring.   DH and I are not ready for mowing season.

My project this week us touch up paint the baseboards in kitchen and master bath.   I read that if you rub fabric softener sheet on baseboard after painting, it helps keep clean snd scuff free.

We got our raised beds kits I ordered.   Days are getting longer.  What are you looking forward to spring for?

Have a great Tuesday!

Breathe

7I have started my 5 week bible study online "Breathe" written by Priscilla Shirer. Perfect timing, snowy and cold so I decided to stay in, if possible.  But then, my online connection was gone.  Could it be the still unburied internet line?  I don't know.  Don't have to let it get me down.  I am practicing the art of not immediately reacting...not just outward, to others...but inside.  Not immediately assigning a feeling to something...

So, I got a D on this.  But it was my first time.  I will work on that muscle memory.

I really loved this:  "But sadly, I’ve often been unable to relish God’s double-portion miracle for me. And I think you probably know the feeling. Because believing that doing less can somehow produce more requires a resilient faith. It takes an unshakable concrete trust in God — the kind that won’t topple even in an earthquake of doubt — to maintain the confidence that allows you to stop, even when everything in you and around you says keep going. Keep pushing. Keep gathering. Keep persisting...Dear Lord, help me not to miss seeing You do what You do best: be God. Empower me to honor the foundation that supports a double-portion miracle — the Sabbath. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ok, I had another chance not to react...I clicked on YouTube to follow along with the course accompanying videos and my computer had a Microsoft screen come up and say that my computer was blocked due to virus activity and I needed to call Microsoft.  So I tried to call the number and my call was dropped twice.  So, then I just laughed.  Because how ironic.  I am trying to do diff modes of media to take a class about doing less and my computer has meltdown.  So, now the Russian hackers have my IP address and phone number.  Oh well. 

Heck of a way to start a Monday!  Today was better!  Sunny, beautiful day.  Did nothing today and that's OK, I will try to accomplish something tomorrow...I am going to try and do 2nd yoga class (2 power in one week)...we shall see.  Oh, and I am starting an afgan for my cousin too.

Selling!

I have 45 pair of shoes and boots of my friend's sister listed...not a single sale yet until this week.  Then I sold one pair of boots and 2 jeans.

It is funny how it sort of cascaded once it gets started.  Can be Amy project.  Clearing out clutter, organizing, rearranging,  selling, even giving away.  Once I get started, it flows.

I also went through box of photos of my neice and nephew.  Kept just few and plan to photo and transfer to electronic storage and otherwise incorporate into my current photos.

Then I divided them all up to give to neice and nephew.  Thus freeing up a large box.  I also went through a big pile of picture frames and prepared for donation.

While DH is away at deer hunt, I will declutter even more.  He did agree to donate 2 huge speakers...so that is great!

This morning, I worked on clearing out some cabinets and I am going to store some glassware in more long term way...if I dont find myself using, I will donate.  Then I dusted and watched birds till DH got up.

We have to drive to other side of the county for his lab and my dr.  My dr appt I set back in May or so, funny how the lab got put on same day, conveniently.  I hope my new specialist is good, I will miss my doctor in the city, but not the huge medical facility challenges that came with her.  But with huge medical facility comes cutting edge knowledge and strategy?  Will I be giving up quality for smaller practice?  We shall see.

I am grateful for my health.   It us generally very good, at least I seems to be something I can engage in and affect holistically.   My body allowed me to complete a pretty challenging class last night.   Today I feel it!

Yesterday afternoon, our house/pet sitter came by and we introduced her little dog to ours.  Showed her around, instructed how we handle food, water, potty.  Our 6 mo old pup is almost completely trained, but still has occasional poop accident.  I think it is because she got used to pooping on leash at the hotel, so we need to be a little more deliberate about that.

We drove back to the city today, for DH to golf with his brother.  I was going to golf too, but my back is still really sore.  Goes all the way down right leg.  So, I begged off and finished some banking (closed our city accounts, moved to the bank we have in retirement town).  Got us some smaller bills for porter, cab tips, etc.  We also got our prescriptions filled and we can xfer any other refills to the little town near us that has same drug store.

Then I came to library to enjoy some internet!  I know house sitter was totally bummed that we had no internet or cable.  But we are paying her very fairly!

So, we leave in the morning for NYC!  I am hoping that DH and I do not suffer from back pain so much that it affects our enjoyment.  It is the walking/stopping that hurts DH.  And for me, it is just standing and bending over right now.  I can't wait to get back on regular yoga schedule so I can rebuild my strength and flexibility.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!  I will try to post, but not sure I will have time.

Feast

We have had 2 fire alarms at the hotel since Saturday.  Sat morning someone burned some popcorn badly enough to fill our entire floor with smoke.  I grabbed the dogs and my purse and ran outside, DH following.  Then Monday night at 12:30am it happened again.  It just lasted a few seconds and stopped, so we did not leave the room.  I think the one on Saturday gave some of the kids on exchange working the summer at an amusement park the idea...I hope it does not become a repeat thing.  We are growing weary of the hotel, we have made it through 1/3 of our stay.

I enjoyed a great hot yoga class last night.  My girlfriend brought me even more homegrown tomatoes!  So, after yoga I had my usual smoothie and I also had a beautiful hearty perfectly ripend tomato and some of my refrigerator pickles I make every summer that remind me of my mom.  She cut hers much thinner and peeled the cucumbers and added onion.  I did not have onion Sunday when I made mine, I just peal a strips spaced about 1/2 inch apart and cut them thick.  Then I usu add salt and pepper and a pinch of celery salt and sugar and AC vinegar and water.  Sunday I did not have celery salt, but added splash of balsamic vinegar and lemon pepper seasoning, and splash of Cajun seasoning.  This is great summer food, easy to make in our tiny extended stay kitchenette.

Look at my cute doggy wanting a bite of my veggies!


Have a wonderful Wednesday.  This is my Thursday, as I am taking Friday off to oversee the finishing of kitchen floor at RH and I am leaving Thurs right after work.  DH is going to bring our suburban and park it at RH in his shop.  We have decided the extra belongings we had stored in it - we will not need and if he needs suits/shirts/ties for work - it will not be until Sept and he will have enough notice, that he can just bring some up one a trip beforehand. 

So, I will have tiny bit of unpacking to do Friday or Sat and few light chores, but I am mostly planning to relax at RH and tidy up, do a little cleaning after kitchen floors are done.  And I finally get to put down my rug I have had rolled up for 4 years - not wanting to trample on it with all our moving stuff in...Can't wait!

Heat Wave

It is really hot here, and dry.  We are in a heat wave...over 97 for 2 days and likely for sev more, even hotter more like 99 and 100.  Going to hot yoga tonight,  my tummy really off, it will help me sleep.

DH is sort of having sore throat, a bit puny so we may just have smoothies this evening.  I got some salad stuff, a cooked Turkey breast, fresh and frozen veggies, fruit we can have here easily in our room.   Smoothies are easy and welcome in this heat.

Hope you are staying cool!

2 Nights in Extended Stay now

I keep forgetting my stop and smell the roses reflections.  I see a pattern here!  But I am not actually forgetting day to day too much, I forget to write it down.  I did not even worry about walking or yoga this week so far - I have plenty on my plate already.  I have even had take out meals for lunch and dinner to help save time/effort there.  Mainly, I have tried to 1)  enjoy the moments, as I leave a house that I love...that DH and I bought together after we got married...wow, that is a emotional though.  And 2)  to reflect to DH how grateful I am for him and to reassure him and make him feel loved and not be short and impatient.  I really am grateful that I am on this journey with him, and we have each other because we make a great team.  Have a great day!
Update, 2nd night in hotel was better...more on that later.  I think going to hot yoga on Thurs night really helped me sleep.  DH and the dogs were all exhausted too.  Is going to be a long 3 months in extended stay, but we can do this.  Have a great weekend!

Friday Finally

To stop and smell the roses this week, I went to bed early every night (except last night), went to yoga twice and visited my DGM.  Yoga last night was just my friend T and I with our instructor.  He has been teaching us since 2012.  Last night he told us how well we  are doing.  I was shocked, he is not a talker  I replied that I felt and saw changes in myself that I know are from yoga and that is all I need.  It was good doing yoga twice this week, I want to walk 4 -5 times a week and do yoga 2-3 times when we retire.  I told DH that while I was on break yesterday I went through and did a draft of our new post retirement budget.  This week we both changed our addresses most places we could think off - banks, investment, professional licenses (4), utilities, work, insurance...I also put in the mail forwarding order for post office.  So, now all we have to do is turn in his paperwork, finish our 3 months work (pay off NYC trip off my credit card) and then next week our house will be paid off from the equity in our city house we are selling.  I have been really aware of getting rest and eating right, so physically I am doing well, but dang I am weary.  P.S.  I am well today, but yesterday i had a flare of epic proportions.  I had forgotten just how sick i can get, I had been feeling so well for so long.  Then BAM - out of nowhere...I know DH is tired and weary too.  But this weekend, we essentially unload the pantry/misc stuff (clocks, step ladder, other kitchen stuff) and plants go to MIL house and we are pretty much free to relax Saturday in our new space.  We will just have to try to ignore the ruined, partially torn up hardwood floor in the kitchen.  My pantry is in the utility room, so I can work in there and not worry about the torn up floor.  Oh, and I do have to move a shelf that is currently in utility room to garage so they can install flooring in there too.  But those two things are pretty minor compared to some of our recent work weekends of the past 3 years..  Sunday we will come back and clean where some furniture has been moved while we were gone and coordinate giving away few more things (another briefcase - this time to BIL, a sturdy for-sale sign for their yard, large TV, Armoire) and some stuff to purge (radio that does not work well, exercise ball that is going flat some more clothes and some old sheets) and then we just have to move stuff to extended stay hotel Tues and Wed night (and work a full week).  The buyer of our CH came over last night to measure a few places, she said she is really excited and we are excited for her to take it over and off our plates!

More Move Planning

My husband and I have one more load of stuff to haul and find places to put it.  Then we have a load of cleaning supplies, ladders, vacuum and plants.  The plants will go to my MIL to be watered for 3 months.  Then the last load to the extended stay hotel.  We are tired.  I am moving away from "what I did to prepare for my move" to "what I did to stop and smell the roses"...Saturday I drove my convertible and had lunch with my sister.   Sunday, I sat and watched TV a couple hours in the afternoon and sat in our camp chairs out on our balcony to enjoy our view as much as we can since we only have 3 more weeks.  It was too hot to walk until late 7:30.  When I got home Sun from walking I made a smoothie, took a shower and asked DH if he wanted to sit on our deck in the cool 70+ degree weather.  He said, we don't have anything to sit on.  I reminded him of the camp chairs in the garage.  When I got out of the shower, he had them ready.  We just sat out there for 30 min.  No phones.  It was nice.  We are trying to take it in.  Our view is the favorite thing about our house.  Monday I started a Max Lucado book.  Tuesday will be yoga.  I am going to mentally start the slow down because mentally is where the challenge for retirement will be for me.  And physically, eventually.  Let's worry about mental first.  Deep breath...I got this. 

Waiting

Yoga last night was refreshing.  Hot and hard, but worth it.  Slept great.  Except my male dog was restless and had some issues last night with pooping accident.  Monday night he seemed to be panting a lot.  He is really slowing down.  I worry about him.  Taking to vet today for shots.  I will tell them about our experience with temp vet and them both getting so sick.
Today I am so tired...not sure it is the extra push in yoga last night, but my husband had this last week or so.  Thinks it is going around, or allergies, or both.  I will go for walk after vet, if I can before it gets dark.
A lot of my weariness is from the inspection, radon test and appraisal process.  Just feel like when you are selling your house without a realtor, people sort of try to "test" you.  Well, test away because we know what have a great house here and that someone will want it.  I am sure the buyer still wants it, but sure would like some reassurance.  The inspection was stressful, we have heard nothing on radon that they collected monitoring equipment for Monday (how long does it take? - I guess no news is good news).  And the appraiser called me yesterday questioning my value and asked for my research - um, don't you work for the buyer/her mortgagor?!  He said since there are no comp villas but for the one for $255 a year ago, he was going to compare our villa to townhouses instead of single family homes.  He also disputed the square footage that I took directly from the county tax assessor site.  We shall see.  I think since the buyer is putting $80k down, we should not have a problem.  But I cannot help worry.  I just need this day and this week to pass, so things feel more definite and I can feel sure that all our work packing and moving are for real.  Can't imagine if this falls through - having to stage the house again.  Ugh - there is stuff everywhere.
I will just sit and calm myself with breathing, meditation and abiding in Jesus.  Jesus please lift this anxiety from me, I trust in You.  Amen.

Tuesday, paying for it

This is from Tues Sept 19 - I just fixed a typo and it parked it right here.  Stayed up too late watching football on TV.  Before the game, they showed my city and snippets of the people and the fans here - gave me that pride of living here kind of feeling.  Then they talked to a few of the players and asked how they get ready for a big game.  Most of them mentioned music or listening to radio to get ready.  Prayer, solitude.  Amping up, getting psyched up.  I used to be a wrestling cheerleader in high school.  I know it seems weird being a wrestling cheerleader, but we had (and still do) a good wrestling program and my high school boyfriend was a state wrestler and I was proud of those guys and rooted them on.  I learned their routines and habits to get prepped for meets.  It was interesting.  Their dedication as young men, was inspiring.  A couple of the NFL football players sat down during the national anthem.  Many of the people if my social media feed have a very strong emotion about it one way or another.  It seems like one side or another.  The opinions are so strong, there is little room for thought, only reaction.  My DH has a strong reaction.  I also have an opinion on it, but I am not willing to decide and just stop.  I try to understand.  I am just tired of looking at everything all or nothing, my side or your side, good or bad.  I am just tired.  And now after staying up too late and forgoing hot yoga to be home and watch the game, I am feeling blah.  Sometimes, the answers do not come - like why the guy in Vegas did such a horrific act.  Sometimes things don't fit into a box.  Just last week I said to myself I was going to try to avoid negative news that tries to pit side against side.  Now it seems almost impossible.  Mix in the sad stories about the victims and I am sad as well as tired.  Glad I have tools in my life to pick up and utilize.

Now I learn another person on my project at work is leaving.  I have been a temp for nearly 10 years!  I have been on several projects over the years.  This last project I have been on has been nearly 3 years.  At first I hated this project.  The person who I worked closely with was confusing, left out crucial instruction, was frazzled with her own work/workload, was a little rough around the edges and unprofessional in how she spoke (oversharing personal information) and really was pretty rude most of the time.  I spend a few nights crying at home to my husband.  And I looked for other jobs.  I did not look very hard.  I am at a loss careerwise and after having a few disappointments, I gave up looking about the time I started working here. 

After a while, I have adjusted...I don't let it bother me.  See, I barely mentioned it.  Haha.  Perspective is a powerful thing.

Hot Yoga

Had a great hot yoga session last night.  I needed it after schedule the radon inspection complication, instead of installing 2 days before reg inspection, they will come get Monday - after inspection.  I could tell my sinuses were affected by allergies though, because I could not do eagle or warrior three on my right side.  I usually sleep really well after yoga but I was wide awake last night.  I went down to basement and plugged in 2 fans to move the air for radon testing.  It really seems arbitrary and unregulated in our CH state.  I just hope they find nothing and we all move on.  I will open all the windows now that I am pretty sure it won't rain through Monday.  It was not supposed to rain last night, but it did - right at dog walking time, of course.  But I managed to get them out after it slowed to a sprinkle.  My male dog barked at the front door at 10:30 and then stopped but kept looking at the door.  I was creeped out, then I realized if someone were there, he would keep barking.  But he just sat there...then it dawned on me...he was looking for DH!  So funny how animals are.  They know when things are out of their routine!
So, DH will be home tomorrow.  I packed a couple areas last night, but that is all.  I separated out a few more clothes to pack and take.  We already have the load packed in our large SUV for the 5/18 weekend.  So, I guess I am working on the load for Memorial Weekend.  I think if we take a full load every weekend from now to June 27, we should be able to get it all without help and without a trailer (other than open trailer for the bikes).  I am pretty sure we do not have such an involved move "in us" again.  My DH seems to be really tired all the time.  I am worried about him, I hope it is just all this stress and anticipation and activity surrounding our renovating one house, selling the other and moving (and his retirement!).
Have a great Wednesday!