Cold Snap and Finding a Few Dollars

 A quiet patch.  Some sort of bug had a hold of the man.  Not good.  I have washed my hands 1000 times, cleaned and cleaned (with gloves on) and sprayed disinfectant on all shared surfaces.  I also have done all the cooking and the cleanup.  Which wasn't bad at all, considering he didn't eat real meals for several days.

I had to learn to run the snowblower (wasn't hard) plus do all of the everything.  But he seems to be over the worst of it today. He's way behind at work but him stressing about it is worse than the actual work required. 

A text from kid #3 today that we will need to travel to a tournament he is in.  Might like to fly there instead of a  800 km drive.  UGH!  Then hotels and meals. ugh.  We have the funds, I just don't really like going there.  In thinking about it, the car rental or taxi/ubers would be way more than the gas to get there.  Also, if it's -30 I don't want to be hanging out waiting for some random car to take me where I need to be.

I caught up on some errands.  Library, Credit Union, Bank, insurance broker, pharmacy and groceries.  Plus did a 30 min yoga session. Sitting in the sunshine now, appreciating the quiet.  I pulled out some frozen chicken breasts for tonight.  All of my meal planning that I did for last week turned out to be for only 2 small meals.  I made them so that the fresh vegetables didn’t go bad, and then I ate the leftovers. Ugh (I dislike leftover anything except chinese food and chili and that isn't what I made!) Tonight I'm using the Chefs Plate recipe, but with all of my own stuff. Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and fried zucchini. The broccoli is looking a little wobbly so we will have a lot of greens.

Need to do a Costco run, but the big carts are too hard for me to maneuver with my back and shoulders.  (Its the turning) I used up all of my brown sugar, need paper towels and tissues, sweet potatoes and grab some chicken thighs. When the man is back to normal we will go some evening next week.

We did a little outing and met up with another couple that I haven't seen for 4 months.  It just didn't work out to get together with them. Again the "what do you do all day?"  "Whatever I want"

Watch movies, do laundry at 2 pm instead of all evening, take my time meal planning and cooking.  Have a nap, read a book, go for coffee, yoga, cleaning, meditating, more deep cleaning.  Take family to medical appointments, play with babies.  Endless options really.

I do not miss work one bit.  I met up with a couple of former coworkers and I really want no part of the frustration and constant do more with less time and resources. 

In my errands the other day I closed out an account that was about to become inactive.  I was using it for insurance reimbursements for many years.  Now that I'm retired, I dropped my optional extra coverage that I had through work since the man has way better coverage than I do. I didn't get a paper or electronic statement, I just had it in the background, knew about it but just "turned a blind eye" for 8 years.  I thought it had a couple thousand in it.  I was happily wrong!  I have enough to buy my yearly TFSA and put a good dent into maxing my RRSP amount for 2024!  Whoohoo!

For some reason as well, my parental units gifted me a significant amount after New Years.  When I asked what was the occasion, I didn't get a straight answer. Nothing comes without strings attached so I am quite leery.  That too will be invested.

Travel this year is being put off. Perhaps back to the west coast, or see the east coast of Canada. The time will be spring.  I've been to the east coast of the US a couple times, but not here.  I think I would like the Cabot trail.  But we will see.  I have nothing but time to plan!  I love seafood so either coast is awesome with me!!  I have a folder on my computer adding tours/restaurants/hotels to.  Its fun! 

I need to meet with my investment guy for our pre-tax season plan. This time the man thinks that he should maybe do some RRSP's to avoid paying tax this year.  A lot is unknown as to how my retiring partially through the year will affect things.  I just find it all so very very dry.  I have to make myself pay attention.  That's the reason that I started this blog forever ago.  Track where I have been, and plan for the future.

The good things:

Unexpected bucks!!

Babies 

Things that suck:

-30

wicked virus' going around

Reset, Relax and Rethink

 2025 will be my year of no rushing.  I hate rushing to go/do anything.  It stresses me out and makes me very irritable.  I'm 5 days in and so far so good.

The holidays came and went with a flurry of cooking and cleaning.  I am in envy of those that can somehow pull off a meal for 20+ people!  I cooked for 10 for 2 days and I was flat out exhausted on the 26th.  I was also sleep deprived and cranky.  Getting 4 hours of sleep a night is not a good foundation for 2 days of hosting.  

The sleep trouble = teenager.  

There is another baby added to the family on the mans side.  Quite the fiasco so far, but the babe is healthy.   The dad is an obnoxious jerk that I can barely tolerate.  So lazy, selfish and outright mean to the wife.  I was secretly hoping that they would split up before any baby came along.  Nonetheless I will be supportive to her and the baby, and not stir up jerkface.  I have a very strong feeling that I will be doing quite a bit of babysitting.  She's not able to take the full maternity leave that we have here in Canada of 1 year as they are completely broke and would likely lose the house.  (But at least he can drive his brand new $80,000 truck) Seriously.

I continue to do yoga at home, just stream it to the t.v. for sessions daily.  I haven't found a particular person to follow yet.  I'm quite limited with my old injury so still finding the right fit.  

The temperature here is beyond cold.  I can't get outside to walk.  Well I could if I wore a total snowsuit. But I don't want to!  We are still looking for a nice vacation spot.  I don't want to go back to where we were last year.  I'm thinking a tour of sorts. But first we have to make sure that the teenager that deprives me of sleep is set.  Also had word today that one of my parents fell on the ice.  Big splat apparently. Nothing broken, just very sore.  That's all I need right now.  Jeeze.

So today I am turning up the furnace, I have a giant pot of chicken soup getting started, I'm going to stream a yoga session and then get started on one of my books.  I have 2 waiting for attention.

I used to drop everything and rush in to help anyone and everyone.  I need to step back.  There is a book "The Let Them Theory".  I think this needs to be incorporated in my thinking.  Stretching myself as thin as a wire until I break is not healthy.  Others can step up for once.

The good things:

my soup

my yoga

grandbaby

Things that suck:

Family dysfunction and denial

my parental units

Hanging out solo

I am debating with myself on making a shopping run today.  Its after noon and I still can't decide if I want to brave the elements.  I don't have a set plan/gift list so that is holding me back.  I know when I see it, is how I like to shop, but its too cold for a casual browse driving all over today.

We spent last weekend with kid #3 who is happy as a clam and flourishing in fresh surroundings.  He makes friends so easily I am envious! It was a struggle in the early Fall, but some changes happened that needed to, and now back to normal.  

This is a quote that I have on my phone 

That is not how I was raised. I was the opposite. So I have tried to break to cycle.  Everyone always can improve themselves, and we are all works in progress, but I have my kids going the right direction I think.

Christmas is still in the air as to who will be here on what day.  As I complained last time, the menu depends upon who is here.  It makes a big difference if you need dairy alternatives or can just use the milk and butter!  I'm trying not to stress out and keep it simple.

I'm also not going overboard on gifts.  The kids all would prefer cash, so that's what I will do.  Plus a couple of little household things to wrap.  (Like some dishtowels, k-cups that sort of thing)  I will likely get dh some clothes, but he needs to be there to try them on.  He needs jeans and shoes so I don't want to guess on size and fit for those.  Grandbaby will like the wrapping paper and bows more than the gifts, so it will be something small.  The mom has made a list online so that all the toys fit with the house esthetic* (same colours and same manufacturers).  hmmmmm.  OK.  Whatever.  I will get from that list.  I have lots of toys here that are old, but well loved and brightly coloured.  They can be played with here at grammy's house! 😊

The kids and dh keep asking what I would like.  Seriously I don't even know.  There are a couple of stores that I would buy myself clothes at but dh can not do anything like that. I am embracing my comfy clothes era.  I don't need dress clothes anymore.  I think that I would like a keurig coffee machine.  One that you can make a little 5-6 cup pot of coffee or by the single cup.  My oldest has one and likes it a lot for the 2 of them.  Other than that - I would only like maybe a book.

My spending and savings continues to be as I anticipate.  I am saving about $500+ per week of my pension after planned spending accounted for.  I still plan to max out my RRSP contribution for the year as well as my TFSA.  I'm in a perpetual state of flux regarding the house.  We stayed at a lovely home on the weekend with a beautiful big bright kitchen.  I am envious. I would love a bungalow with a nice kitchen.  I'm still looking. 

I'm running solo for the next couple of days as dh is travelling for work. I am very happy with eating a salad or a sandwich or a bowl of soup so I will get my fill while he's away. Plus he can have all the greasy fast food crap that he loves.  Its a win win!

On that note I will get the next load of laundry going, boil a couple of eggs for my salad and do some dusting.  I'm feeling chilly, so I should try and get moving.

The Good Things:

Happy Kids

Easy meals

Retirement

Things that suck:

The very ridiculous parental units

The maternal unit that has rapid cognitive decline

Its freezing cold!

Snowed in equals Savings

We have made up for not having any snow yet this winter by getting a huge wallop!  Since Thursday last week I haven't left the house.  Today we are going out and will find a live christmas tree.  The tree lots have been pretty empty as the big snow dump that we had has slowed down the trucks delivering.  Going nowhere is a savings.  I’m not buying any new Christmas decor with the exception of a new scented candle as I used up the old one.  I would also like a Christmas mug for coffee, but I haven’t come across any. I don’t want to order one as I like to feel them out! Maybe some pyjamas. Mine are always in the wash because of my night sweats.

This last month has been the first time that I had to fill a prescription since retirement.  The pharmacy I go to is only because I get "points" it isn't because the staff is on the ball, or good in any way with what they do!  I'm covered with dh's plan now.  They couldn't comprehend that and charged me full price.  Now the receipt needs to be submitted to insurance for a refund.  That could have all be done easily by a competent person at the counter.  The person working that day I have come across before and they are very ignorant, I didn't have time to explain it 17 times, so it will be submitted online.  There are no local drugstores anymore it seems.  Old Galen has bought them all.  My old Shoppers Drug mart used to have wonderful pharmacists that knew people when they came in, spoke to them about their prescription, asked questions, did some education.  It closed, so I moved to another. Now it is handed to me by a "tech" that is rushed and in a huff about god knows what.  They barely check that I'm the right person.  The "Pharmacy Supervisor" (That's on his name badge) isn't a pharmacist.  He's supposed to oversee something - I don't know what exactly.  The billing maybe. What I do know is that he has very smelly BO and he's difficult to understand. I need to ask some neighbours maybe if they go anywhere else and if its good.

It looks like I am having christmas here.  I'm happy to have the kids and grandkid, but the prep isn't exciting me at all.  The in-laws will land here too.  There are so many food restrictions that it makes ordering in for the 24th impossible.  That also translates to a difficult menu to plan for the 24th and 25th.  No gluten, no dairy, no carrots.  My family doesn't whine about food but the dh, his dad and the bil/sil do. I'm in no mood this year.  They better not test me.

For Shrek fans there is a line in the movie that has always made me laugh (many did) but it was "I'm a donkey on the edge!" I will unleash the dragon.  I'm there.

My savings continue to grow and I'm still adding monthly to a high interest savings account, then I will max out my RRSP and TFSA for this year in Feb 2025.  I moved into some GIC's in the summer, only choosing the 1 year option as they had the highest rate, and I still don't know how long we will live in this house.  Being retired, I won't qualify for a mortgage so cash is available.  But that is the backburner.  I look at houses daily and there isn't any market here for buyers.  I am looking to downsize and want a fantastic kitchen and entertaining area.  No such thing so far!  There is also the option to build.  But finding a lot in nice quiet area like I am now with parks so close comes at a ridiculous premium.  The good thing is I'm not in a rush, so when the time is right I can do it.

Meanwhile I need to continue to purge out closets and cupboards and storage rooms.

The good things:

Smell of a fresh tree

Afternoon naps

Babies that are learning to walk and give kisses

Bags and bags of donations and recycling and garbage are finding their way out!!

Things that suck:

rude people

A Pause and Reset

Retirement hasn't felt like retirement.  Or what I think that it should feel like.  It feels like time off.  That I should still be packing a lunch and getting up with an alarm when Monday comes around.

I wrapped up my final work shift with a long and boring day. I wasn't around the dingbat manager, it fact had zero interaction.  I was back to my previous area and didn't recognize more than a couple of people.  There has been major staff turnover.  Its very different now.  The staffroom is very quiet at lunch with everyone staring at their phones or they have headphones in.  Years ago it was always lively fun conversations.  I enjoyed the lunchroom and looked forward to it. Learning about what everyone was doing, their kids, hobbies, travel, latest recipes, new restaurants etc.  My last day it was cold and quiet.  Those that spoke, did so in tagalog.  Not somewhere that I want to stay or that I miss now gone.  The comradery was gone, the friendliness was gone. It was awful. 

I would like to be out for daily walks.  Nope.  I was waiting for a foot MRI, but have declined. At least I'm not limping as bad as I was!  I don't want to have surgery, so I'm hoping that I will get better on my own.  It is improving daily.

I've had 4 medical appointments this month. (None have been for me!  haha) I am fortunate or maybe they are fortunate that I have the ability/time to get them where they need to go! 3 family members so far and hopefully everyone will be on the mend.

After this last appointment accompaniment for elderly family I needed to extend my care for them to three days. I went back to my parental units. It was something.

I told my DH that I will not return until there is a significant adverse event. It was torturous. Wildly out of touch with the realities of the mothers memory impairment. Mean, vile and hateful towards everyone. EXCEPT still able to put on a fake show of being pleasant when a person stopped by to canvass. Good to see that hasn’t changed since I was a child. I was relieved to come home. 

Me being at home has helped the grocery budget.  The last 2 weeks I have been very diligent about menu/leftovers and we have eaten very well.  I have dietary changes to manage an auto immune rash, it limits eating out for the past year and makes it a necessity to cook at home. 

I've decided that I'm in a time of reset or pause.  I'm going to allow myself to rest, to zone out, or to be involved as much or as little as I want.  The kids are all doing their own thing and I need to find my thing.  I have some stuff planned for next week that could be a major change.  

Today was my first pension payment.  It is just what I thought it would be.  But I also have more No Spend days than other days.  This month so far are 18 no spend days.  Not being able to walk well, certainly curtails the shopping!  Plus I don't need or want anything other than food.  I do plan to purchase a little something for halloween for the grandbaby, but that will be a little toy (maybe).

I prepared for about 75 trick or treaters last night. It was a nice mild day here. The neighbourhood, like me has gotten old! Nice to see the kids and costumes but there were only about 50 kids. Even with quite a few new families that have moved in over the last year. Oh well, lots of treats for dh’s office. None for me as chocolate seems to be a bad food.  

Kid 3 is home for a few days, it changes the quiet house. I will have the whole crew here for food and visit before he leaves. Makes my heart happy to have everyone around the table, also to have the laughter and joy that the baby brings. It’s restorative.  I’m already looking forward to Christmas!

I have a feature on my banking app that tracks money in vs out.  I’m still doing very well.  Saving diligently.  My investments are fluctuating, and the market is unpredictable right now. Just going to ride it out.

The good things:

Babies 

Mild fall 

Things that suck:

The parental units 

US election is clogging the airwaves here 

Feeling in flux 

But here is my tree that provides the best yellow in my yard. Then when the leaves drop, the bark is very pretty.  Year round display!

The Last One has Flown Away

 The Nest is Empty.

Busy week last week.  Packing and sorting the life of an 18 year old.  All of it fit into the small SUV.  And away he went.  This year it is planned, no school to arrange, destination is known, faces are familiar.  That is a relief. But just like that, the house was quiet and big.  

The day before was the "Goodbye Tour" of the siblings and the friends and the girlfriend.  The last 6 months have been very difficult to navigate.  Transferring back to the city school, getting classes synched and adding 2 cyber classes, finishing and catching up with in person classes, graduating,  getting a job and working erratic shifts, finding a vehicle, trying to plan for the future. He still managed to have great marks and be in the "great distinction" group so I was very proud of him!  We hosted a party at our house, sadly the weather didn't cooperate so that we could enjoy the yard, but we had 20 guests for evening drinks and appies.  It was a lot of fun.  I haven't hosted a big gathering like that in many many years.  Having a pile of guests is a great reason to deep clean the house.  So it still looks pretty good 2 months later! 

I have my retirement documents all sorted out.  My HR department is staffed by imbecilic asses, and so I have to wait for them to do their jobs.  The person supposed to process my information mixed me up with another staff member and sent me all of her information! She thought that our names were the same.  Think Jackie Smith and Jean O'Connell (not my name or hers but similar)  Only the first letter is the same!  "Oh I thought you were Jean" "The names are similar and I got you mixed up".  No our names are not the same at all.  You didn't bother to take 5 seconds to read and pay attention to information.  You would think that that would be the reason that someone would be put on probation, or looses their job.  NOPE! Incompetence is celebrated and she will likely be promoted.  I reported her to her director with copies of all her errors, which I initially tried to patiently clarify with her and get her to answer simple questions.  She tripled down on her insistence that I was "Jean" in emails. So it finally ended with a phone call that I called her an idiot and she apologized for wasting my time, but not for sending information to the wrong person!   

I can't be rid of my employer soon enough.  Today I went through all of my cleaned out desk items that I brought home.  I have a small folder to give to my old coworker and the rest is in the shredder.  The dh will be pleased that he has a corner of the office back.  It was a bit congested for the last 3 months :)

I slept for 8 hours last night.  I had breakfast and coffee outside on the deck.  I watered the flowers and did a load of laundry.  I'm hoping that my book is in the library soon today and I will walk over.  My app tells me that I am at 15 books read so far this year.  I will have lots of time to enjoy this new one as dh is away all weekend.  Nice and peaceful.

Enjoy the start of Fall!

A Month of Retirement

 Tiring week last week. I accomplished virtually nothing.  I think that we had COVID.  Not sure as I don't have any tests left, but it wiped out the 3 of us.

The week started with a sour cookie! I opened a box of cookies and had one and it tasted sour.  Gross, must be a bad cookie. (Is there even such a thing?) So I tried another.  Gross, sour!  Gave what was left to dh, he tries and tells me that my tastebuds are whacked.  I wasn't hungry after that.  Then a tiny sore throat.  Then the chills, bone rattling, teeth chattering chills.  Then the sweats, then the chills and repeat for 24 hours.  Tylenol helped, then the sinus pressure.  Cold medicine helped.  Somehow 3 days went by and I didn't get out of my pj's.  Dh had same thing except no chills.  Now we both cough with the slightest exertion.  Kid 3 that spread it to us is still coughing too.  He's had bad headaches.

Oh well!?  At least I didn't have to go into work feeling like garbage.  I am doing all of my paperwork tomorrow.  Quite a few pages and several required ID photocopies to get the pension started. I have decided not to pull anything from my retirement savings for at least 2 years. (If even then) As it will lift me up into the next tax bracket. After speaking with my investment guy I will be buying RRSP's for the next couple of years to make sure that I don't have to pay any income tax.  Plus it will fill the gap when my bridged pension reduces. Not a large amount, but $200 per month at least, then more at tax time if required.  It will be the 2025 taxes that will tell the tale.

Other than the brush with VID it has been a nice summer.  Hot and not terribly smokey for a change.  The yard is starting to smell like fall with a hint of dry leaves in the air.  We got a lot of work done with some much needed maintenance to the shed and the deck.  I also touched up some outside house trim, and had dh do the stuff I couldn't reach.  The apple tree has had a truckload of apples this year.  Too many!!  The week of sickness was really the prime time for picking, many have hit the ground and then into the compost bin.  So far I think it has been 30+ gallons of apples pitched. (I load them into a 5 gallon pail and then haul them) There is still likely another 20 gallons on the tree, but I would need a crane!  Next year I will get an arbourist to hard prune it back after it flowers.

I made 6 big apple crumbles.  A new recipe that has pecans ground up in the topping.  I thought that I would give it a shot, and it was fantastic!  It is also gluten free for the celiac in the family and I can't tell the difference.

Easy Gluten Free Apple Crumble (No Oats) - Well Fed Baker

I have added more pecans to my topping after trying the first one.

Days are busy and not busy as I get into the new swing of things.  I really am not regretting retirement at all.  In fact loving it so far! The extra sleep has made me feel like a new person.  I haven't set an alarm for a month and it has been wonderful.  I still wake up early, but I don't have to drag myself to make a lunch, do hair and makeup and drive to work.  I have a ton of work clothes, but I am holding on to some of them for now.  I *think* that I will be doing a couple days a week volunteer work in a school, just waiting to see what the logistics would be like and I will need a criminal record check done before starting.

The grandbaby is beyond precious!  Loved to bits by all of us.  I'm fortunate to live so close to them.  Just starting to sit up and having big laughs and smiles.

 We are also planning a week long get away the end of next month.  The first annual empty nest vacay.  Hopefully another couple will be joining us, so that will spread out the driving.  Off to the mountains we will go.

The Good Things:

Feeling better

Babies

No Alarm clocks

Things that suck:

Taxes

COVID