Updates on Assorted Things

I seem to be busier than ever. I meant to do this post last week, but it was crazy busy around here. I am usually good about not over scheduling myself, but last week (in addition to the usual activities) there was a funeral, a going away party (not stuff you can put off) and a visit with my mom and dad.

This week, I have been trying to get a few last minute things done because tomorrow we are on our way to St Lucia! There’s something especially nice about leaving on a tropical vacation when the temperature at home is freezing and the temperature at the destination is a balmy 80 degrees. In addition, this vacation is FREE- its the last perk from my old company in my retirement package. I will probably have to go to a meeting and talk about my retirement, but for a free week in St Lucia with my family, I’ll take that trade every time.

It is the first vacation that we’ve been on with only one of our kids. There wasn’t a vacation week where both of our sons could come, so our oldest is staying at college, and only our youngest son is with us. Which is weird, but quieter.

I didn’t get knitting until last week when it finally clicked. I LOOOOOVE it. I think I will continue knitting even if all I ever knit are dish cloths and scarves. It is wonderfully relaxing- almost meditative. That’s good for me because I have a really hard time meditating. I have always had a hard time sitting down for any period of time- I think of other things I could be doing, and I’m off to do them. Knitting allows me to sit on the couch and kind of be a part of the family stuff that’s going on in the living room. Its also kind of addictive. I find myself saying, I’ll quit after the next row- and then of course I don’t. I picked up a book called “The Zen of Knitting”- it’s about the health and mental benefits of knitting. I’m already a believer.

My house is still CLEAN. This Flylady system is the bomb. My house is much cleaner than it ever was when I had a cleaning service and I’m having a good time doing it. My resolution to keep up with my spending this year is not going so well. The app I use to keep up with this stuff was unable to update several accounts, so I realized after I thought I was done, that I had to update the app, and start all over again. I threw in the towel for the day and didn’t re-do it. I have a note on my calendar to try again after St Lucia.

My plan to walk the Camino Santiago is still on, of course, but I may have some unexpected companions. My parents had dinner with some of my dad’s cousins, and one of them has walked the camino with his wife several times. They are considering joining me, and I think I will enjoy that. They are currently in Mexico, so we’ll talk about it when I get back from St Lucia.

My birthday turned out quite nice- a group of friends turned up for a surprise birthday dinner at a nearby fancy restaurant. It was great fun, and the food was excellent. My new birthday luggage is going to come in handy tomorrow!

My furniture replacement resolution is almost done. In the last two weeks, I have purchased an antique bookcase with glass doors to replace an enormous armoire that once housed our tv and entertainment equipment. Unfortunately these armoires are out of style and no one seems to want it. I have decided to make a potting bench out of it- to keep my potting soil, pots, and other gardening equipment together. I also bought new bar stools. The old ones had gotten wobbly and couldn’t be tightened because screw covers were glued over the screws and we couldn’t get them off. I’m quite happy with everything now.

There are two couples we promised to have over before Christmas. By the time we get back from vacation it will be almost March and we haven’t had either of them over yet. I have a note to schedule that as soon as we get home. A vacation report to follow soon!