Winter Update

 

Sometimes you need to only look out your window to see the beauty around.  This was out my back door the other day.  Hoar frost is a treat in the winter, turning everything into a sparkling show.

When I typed “Out your window” I immediately thought of Kim and my heart goes out to her and her family.  She’s been such a kind and funny support for me over the years.  I hope that she knows how much she’s appreciated and cared about.

I saw the new year in with family, exhausted after a 7 hour drive and a week away for kid 3 sport.  I did get to see my favourite cousin and his family for a few hours, so that was a welcome bonus.  Kid 3 did great, very proud of the hard work.

I checked my “retirement calendar” and it shows 619 days!  I am putting the cruise control on and plowing forwards.  Anytime that I mention it to the man he becomes even more surly than his normal surly self.  And that is how he is.  

The parental units are purging their hoard and planning on a move here in the next year.  The purge = giving me all the crap that my sibling doesn’t want.  Lucky me.  Things that I needed 20 years ago, going through my divorce they were unable to give me.  Like a dining table and chairs in the basement that they piled boxes on.  They needed it.  Nobody has ever eaten a meal at that table, but it couldn’t be parted with.  Now - “Didn’t you want that table downstairs?”  No thanks, I’m getting ready to downsize myself.

What has been positive is that I am finally not completely exhausted every day.  The secret…

My own bedroom.  I don’t get woke up 15-20 times a night by snoring and flopping around on the bed, him up to the bathroom 2-3 times.  The man is morbidly obese and his health is not unaffected.  

I found my sleep success when he had covid and I moved to a different bedroom.  Glorious, simply glorious to sleep 8 hours a night!  To not have dark circles under my eyes and be dragging myself out of bed everyday, amazing!  It was awful sharing a bed in the hotel.  I needed a nap every day to function.

I am also reading books, last year was only 25, but I was busy with the wedding.  This year I hope to hit 40.  I use the Good Reads app and my local library has an app that makes it beyond simple to request books.  I get an email when my book is in, and it is on a shelf waiting for me with my name on it.  I love it.  

My work situation has changed.  It happened quite suddenly when I walked into work, there was someone else sitting beside me. I knew nothing about the change happening.  This person has loads of family problems and a sense of great self importance.  They also think that they are my boss.  They aren’t.  So there are quite a few clarifications that I need to do daily as they try to define my scope of practice.  This new person is permanent I fear, so I only work extra days when they aren’t there.  The family disruptions that they get are so bizarre and disrupting to myself and all the offices around it is ridiculous.  I like working alone best.  I also like working from home.  I have a good set up here.  Comfortable and quiet, but sadly I need to be on site for much of what I do.

I go back to work in a couple of days and I’m feeling the dread build up.  I hate that.

But it pays the bills and builds my retirement fund.

So only good things to end:

A stack of books

A wonderful nights sleep

Healthy kids that I love being around and spending time with.

Just keep swimming!

Into Winter

 

This is from the day before the wedding in summer.  There are 2/3 of my kids ahead of me on the golf course. The other 1 doesn’t like golfing so is off hiking.

The wedding was beautiful.  Extremely stressful for me, but everyone that mattered seemed to have a wonderful time.  

My daughter-in-law’s family are a very different bunch. (Not in a lovely/friendly/pleasant/well educated way) To quote my youngest “How did the wonderful new sister-in-law come from that group!?”  My X and his 3rd wife were dufus’s as anticipated and my parents pulled a lot of drama the week prior.  I had my parents ironed out by the day of the wedding, and of all people, my sibling and the boyfriend were very helpful.

I went back to work and did a couple of weeks of full time hours then my youngest was at a sports camp.  That turned out to be 12 days long as he made it to the final round of cuts.  It was 5 days longer than I had thought it would be, so that was quite costly to be away for 11 nights/12 days.  I was exhausted.  He was disappointed, but things have turned out really well with his team here at home.  And we probably get to do it again next year.  Ugh.

There has been zero opportunity to get away to relax somewhere.  To be honest I like to be at home and not having to plan anything.  I took this week off of work and the spouse is away for work so having the house to myself during the day is quiet and relaxing.  It’s snowing and cold, but I don’t care, I’m not going outside.

Summer and the fall sports camp were incredibly expensive.  Hanging out at home reading, watching MY shows is rejuvenating without spending a dime.

I haven’t been feeling good for the last couple of weeks so this is needed R&R.

The good things:

My youngest and I get along so easily. (I love my older kids but we had a lot of disagreements when they were teens)

I was able to work from home last week

Things that suck:

My investments

The parental units who thought they should “Come for a visit so you can look after Mom” (that was shut down in a hurry)

Long time no see

 So many changes!  Work, kids, vacations, life 😊 AND I can login to blogger again!

I’ve been working almost full time for the last year.  I’m going to be a mother in law soon.  Everyone has a drivers license.  I’m in transition to focus on retirement  

Above is a pic from our last vacation. The very west coast of Canada 🍁. So beautiful!  I think I want to go back this fall  (summer is a full schedule)  

My investments have tanked hard, so I’m trying to build up my savings account.  I still plan to retire at 55 and live off the husband for 5 years before pulling pension (it’s owed to me).  

Anyway, 2 years of a countdown.  Decisions about the house stay/fix/move and now dealing with aging obnoxious parents.  Always curveballs.

The Good Things:

My kids, summertime, vacation days ahead 

Things that suck:

My parental units, my golden sibling, my investments 

Some Goals Set

 The last couple of weeks I have had bad go of it.  Not feeling well, and of course the only thing talked about is COVID.  I don’t have covid.  I’ve been off work for 2 weeks, I will try to get back the end of next week if I’m feeling better.

Tons of bloodwork, and repeated bloodwork, 3 doctors visits over the phone, 2 more tests in the next 2 weeks. A mittful of pills to take every day and a diet change.  Today I got dressed.  That’s an improvement from PJ’s.

I need to lose 15 lbs.  I need to exercise.  Hard to exercise when your iron is so low your hair is falling out, short of breath all of the time... but I can do a little.

So these goals that I made the title about:

1. Lose 1.5-2 lbs a week until goal weight. 

2.  Build my early retirement fund as high as I can.

    ~ move all extra $$ into separate savings account every payday

    ~ take the lump sum back pay I’m getting with my raise and move into savings.

3.  Start selling off things not being used that I have in the basement and garage.

4.  Keep reading and meditating to help my zen.

That’s more than enough to focus on when I have no energy.

I did make a spinach and feta quiche today and it was delish!  I have picked out 8 new recipes to try in the next couple of weeks.  Almost all of them are from Skinny Taste.  I have her first cookbook, but these are off the website.  They need to be healthy and be very quick prep time as I don’t have the stamina to do a big meal. I have an insta pot that I enjoy using too. 

My kid #3 is getting better in the kitchen and has been a sweet soul to have around when I haven’t been feeling good.  He has made a few meals for all of us, very proud of him.

I’m cautiously optimistic about the raging pandemic.  I think that there is an end in sight. (Or maybe the light ahead is a freight train). 

I haven’t seen any of my friends in so long, it feels like 10 years.  No vacation in over a year.   

Things have got to get better, right?

2021 - Off to a Slow Start

 It’s a new year, and the same old me.  More broken down parts than before, but still running.

I have had both doses of vaccine - so that is something good I think.  My side effects were headache and body aches that lasted 2 days. I’ve felt a lot worse with colds, so this was tolerable.  I guess for all the nutball conspiracy loons - the chip is implanted.  Government/Bill Gates care deeply when I go for groceries.  I can’t stand the stupid.

I’m making my yearly appointment to see my financial advisor in a couple of weeks.  Hopefully to get a very clear path to retirement.  Freedom 55.  I will make it happen. My investments are holding steady with the chaos of the world and I am building up my savings every month.  The whole pandemic thing... if you are lucky enough to keep your job, there aren’t a lot of ways to spend money anymore.

  I am still finding a couple of things to buy.  Lately it has been books.  I used to exchange books with a Mom of kid #3’s teammate.  Well, thanks Covid.  Everything is totally f’d for kids that play team sports. I don’t see her very often at all. So I got the Goodreads app and I buy my own.  Some day we will have boxes of books to exchange.  Right now I’m reading Lilac Girls and finished The Great Believers.  Quite outside of my usual reads, but very much eye openers.  I don’t ever want to be unable to see past the end of my nose.  

My part of the world is still moderately locked down.  I know 2 people that have lost their elderly parents due to Covid.  I know about 15 people that have had it. 1 in ICU for a week, and one with lingering problems since March.  The anti-mask dip shits are so stupid it pains my mind. The lockdown rules that allow big retail to stay wide open but I can’t have company to my home, or we just go meet in a bar makes no sense except that retailers have the politicians under their thumbs.

But other than that I’m great.   Not really , but we just keep swimming, finding joy in small ways.  We have family game nights now, that we didn’t ever have time for before.  We take walks, we try new recipes, I’m teaching kid #3 cooking and baking on the days off from school.  I watch movies that I didn’t have time for before.  

I can’t comment on any blogs which is really a pain - I enjoy reading about others days as mine are pretty quiet.  

Here is out a window after a wee bit of snow a couple months ago:

The Good Things:

I’m vaccinated

I’m Employed

Healthy Family

Pandemic Cranky

Oh the super crankies have really got me this week.

Last week it was the intermittent tears.  I cried with the news, I cried with the food bank telethon, I cried sitting and staring out the window.

I’ve been working from home except for 2 days where I was mandated to go into work and do 8 hours a day of completely not my job or related to my job duties. I still was “In the line of fire” for covid so I had to strip at the back door, wipe down every surface I touched and shower.  The pandemic response at my work is being run by people with ZERO medical knowledge.  Not very comforting.  Dumb asses.  I will take my pay and shake my head.

I’ve also been jerked around this week working at home.  Meetings that have been moved 4 times, people that don’t show up.  Lots of excuses but no valid reason to not be professional.  Nobody is hands on COVID care.  Learn how to use a clock and a calendar. Dumb asses.

I bought masks for the 3 of us, and an extra.  It isn’t the norm yet anywhere I have gone.  I think that it should be.  It doesn’t protect me from the virus, it protects others from me if I have it and not know.
I think that the 3 of us may have already had it. Not that anyone can be sure as there is no proper testing for antibodies done in Canada.  No proper meaning that there isn’t even a test to run that is really accurate.  The existing one gives a lot of false positives from what I read.  Or who even knows anymore.  I just hope I don’t croak from a damn virus that came from a bat.

There have been some OK and even funny things.  During the telethon they had Bryan Adams singing.  Kid 3 says - who is that guy mom?  He’s really good.  “Ya he is pretty awesome”  Randy Bachman “Taking Care of Business” was worth a big grin too. I donate to the food bank at our grocery store, so I didn’t give money that evening.  The weather has been decent for a few days in the last week.  Able to sit outside and enjoy a drink on the deck.  I did a bunch of baking the other day.  6 dozen cookies.  Eat some and freeze some.  I found yeast at the store. I’m going to try buns again.  Last time I made a rock collection!  Kid 1 finished another university class towards a second degree.  An 84%.  Not shabby at all for working full time.
Kid 2 is finished his course.  And there are no jobs to be found.  Not sure what the plan going forward will be.  Doesn’t matter, just be healthy and safe.
Kid 3 is online learning everyday.  The math seems to be taught alright, the other classes seem to be quite optional and well below grade level work required.  Just to get him out of bed and his mind thinking about something I guess.

I like to start looking around garden centers this time of year.  No browsing sessions for me.  I will make a list and in and out same day.  Not for a couple of weeks yet. Today is windy and cool.  Not good for tender plants.  My lillies are coming back, and trees have the buds ready, but no green yet.

I can’t add pictures, I think that is a thing happening with Blogger quite a bit.  I also can’t comment on anyone’s blog.  Well I can but it switches my ID to that of kid 3 and his school ID name and number.  So I will have to keep my comments to myself until my iPad isn’t the classroom.

I see that there will be a meat supply issue.  This is what happens when you rely on giants that don’t give a shit about their workers.  Luckily we are city folk with a country background and can source right from the farmers.

So I’m still cranky and have the blah’s but there are always things to be grateful for:

We are all healthy
I made an extra $800 this pay period because people are stupid
My cookies are 100 x better than my buns ☺️
Fridge and freezer have everything we need.
I don’t have any debt
I’m still able to work as much as I want to
Spring is here, the snow is gone and the birds are singing.

Peace out, stay safe, wash your hands and wear a mask to keep your cooties to yourself.

WFH is My Thing Now

With great begrudging assistance from staff at my employer that work from home already, I now do too!

It has been an adjustment that is turning out ok.  Hubs is in 1 room, me in another and kid #3 is online learning in another.  There are 2 teachers that share his class, one live streams the lesson and the other posts assignments and is available to answer questions for an hour a day.  It seems to be working really well.  Apparently while you are on video chat with your class it is TERRIBLE if your mom walks behind you getting coffee.  It is pretty funny when all 3 of us are on a call or video! Talking away about 3 vastly different topics.

My oldest that was exposed to his friend that has/had the virus did not develop any symptoms.  I saw on facebook a friend from childhood caught it too.  She’s finally feeling better after 2 weeks.  One of my occasional office mates has a friend that caught it too.  Her friend was tested because she was at an event now we call it a “cluster event” in hindsight.  She had only the symptom of fatigue, but because everyone that attended was tested, she found out and isolated herself.  Otherwise she would have been spreading it with family and at the grocery store.

Our grocery situation has been fine.  Shelves were a little sparse after everyone was ordered to stay home.  But they were good the week after.  Hubs and I did a Costco run.  That was interesting.  We waited about 10 minutes to get into the store.  All people except for 1 family observed the 6 foot rule and were respectful.  I bought $450 worth of meat and staples, which will last us about 1.5 months.  We still need to supplement with fresh produce, but that is about once every 10 days.

The daily updates from our Canadian leaders and health ministers are very informative. We all need Dr. Bonnie Henry in our lives.  BC you are so fortunate!!  Things are changing daily.  Can I just say that I LOVE the sign language interpreters.  When they make the mad/disgusted faces with thier gestures, as well as when you can see that they are truly frightened about the information they are conveying, it is sobering.

Then there is the 3 ring circus to the south, led by the orange buffoon.  What a performance.  It’s shameful.  There is a Canadian rage building over his behaviour and orders. It’s going to get worse.

The weather has been nothing short of awful, that helps everyone stay inside.  Snow, wind howling, it might as well be January.  The window in my home office is a bit higher so I cant see the ground when I sit.  It makes me “think” is is a beautiful sunny day as all I see is tree tops and the birds hopping along the fence.

I’m cancelling our family trip that I have booked for July.  We aren’t going anywhere.  This isn’t going away.  Until there is a vaccine, which is at least a year away, I think this world is going to be pretty subdued.

Luckily we have a friend’s netflix account, high speed internet, treadmill and gym equipment, lots of food and we both have our jobs.  Life is as good as it can get under the circumstances.

I hope that our scientists that are working tirelessly on a vaccine, and our Doctors that are struggling to manage the worst of the symptoms can get it figured out, sooner than later.

My thoughts of the morning:
I’m so happy I can go to work in my bathrobe
Most of the people could really benefit from understanding basic rules to “Cooties”