Venus

So many people out to look at the sun with 'lil’ Venus in front of it. People, the news clearly stated “do not look at the sun”. Yet they came to look anyway.

Luckily there were people there with thousands of dollars worth of equipment that could project the image on a piece of paper.  

The grandest of all was a man who had an infrared scope, whereby looking at the sun in all its glory with Venus seemingly inching its way across could be seen; no paper needed.

Cool!

Water Aerobics, Scootering, Flower Planting, Oh My!

We went to a free water aerobics class Sunday afternoon.  Tucked away in the middle of town is a private club. I always knew there was a swimming pool there, but upon entering the gate and moving through the building it opened onto an area with not one, not two, but four swimming pools. One of them was for tots but still…..who knew?   The water was so very cold. I had just drank some ice water before arriving and I am pretty sure the swimming pool water was about the same temperature.  And no if you are thinking that it was only cold when you first get in, that is absolutely not true.   It was so cold.

I ride a scooter, a 125cc Genuine Buddy.  I love it. I don’t know when I will become too old to ride it, but that time is not here right now and I have to say that it is just fun!!  Angelina Tangerina is orange and I wear a bright yellow helmet and a yellow jacket and have a yellow back pack.  I want people 2 blocks away to say. “What the heck is that?” when they see me coming.  Now that is what you call “high viz”!!

I told myself I would only plant more flowers if they were free. I will no longer pay money for flowers. I really do not like digging in dirt and maintaining a garden. Mowing the lawn is ok, but weeding and such, no thanks. 

Today is pretty dreary, but then it is Monday. I have put off a trip to St. Louis to look at some RVs because there are storms around and well…because I can.   

I am in search of a Class B RV. I have been researching and planning for at least 3 years. I know exactly what I want. I know that I may not find exactly what I want but more importantly I know what I don’t want.

 

I do not want something that is more than 23 feet long, really 21 would be perfect.  I do not particularly want something that has an aisle shower, though that would not be a deal breaker if the price was right. I would like to find something that is priced nicely, of course, my motivation for that is savings, but more so it is about wanting to add solar panels, which are included in my RV budget. 

I wish there were more Chinook RVs to be found in the Mid West.  I know they are popular even if they are no longer manufactured.  I would love to have a Concourse 2100.  But will probably find something just as good if I am patient. 

I looked at a small Class C recently but it was in pretty rough looking shape and that did not make me confident for how well it was kept up mechanically so I passed on even driving it. Also, it seemed that the dealer that had it wasn’t extremely interested in actually selling it to me. 

So the search continues.

Shelving it.

I don’t have the slightest idea if anyone will ever read this blog.  After all I am not sure that I do anything interesting to anyone else but me.  However, with that thought firmly implanted in my brain I move forward resolutely and promise to post, as long as I have some sort of internet access to do so, something of my life in retirement and I will try to do this at least 3 times a week. 

My last day of work was May 29^th.  As ironic as it feels to me, given that I was so excited, I was sad to see it end.  I was humbled by the number of people who stopped by my office to wish me well.  I was surprised that a few people actually cried. I was one of them.   

Weird, I know. But I am now done with working full-time.  I loved my job for the greater part of 25 years and I will miss the people and the students.

Onward and upward.

On my first actually day of not working, it is sort of odd that I jumped right in working on building 8 feet of shelving in my garage.  I mean that I didn’t open a box and get out the directions; I actually bought wood and screws and built them from scratch. I have to say that I am so happy with them I believe I will build 8 more feet. 

 I did learn that I am not as physically strong as I believe myself to be.  Of course, some of it may have been due to coupling the carpentry with prep for a colonoscopy the next day. Some may know what this includes; one thing is you are allowed nothing but clear liquids for 24 hours prior and the rest would be….well….just TMI.   So with no food and an ever so slight hangover, due to some Left Handed beer the night before, I just did it.

 

I'm not sure why these are called horses.  Hmmmm....

Working by myself I had to get ingenious with finding extra "hands".

Finished product

Last day at work. 

The department secretary made me cry before 8am. What the heck?  

I need to slip out the door quietly when my retirement countdown clock reaches zero work hours left.  4 hours, 14 minutes...............

So here is what I really think. Not that anyone cares but its my blog and I guess I can say what I want. 

I think the only thing I will miss, aside from some of the people, is the structure of going to work. But honestly, I really think that I can push through it and learn to be unstructured!!

Latah!

Four working days to go!!

I am appropriately fearful, yet ecstatic. I am looking forward to new adventures. Because for me....I believe this statement.....We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
Forward into the abyss!!!!

I haven't been here for a while, what with school starting and the amount of work that involves leaves me either with no thoughts to render or too tired to write them down.

Last week we got 1-2 inches of snow with up to 30 mph winds.  The way I am situated at the end of a cul-de-sac the wind comes off the fields and that caused the 2 inch snow fall to create at 3 foot drift covering the length of my driveway. Not one other driveway on my street had snow in it.

  That stick in the snow is a 3 foot yard stick.

I started shoveling at 7 thinking that I would make it to work by 8. Fat chance. Forty-five minutes later I am on the phone to commission someone with a BIG shovel.

So last weekend I put up a snow fence, pretty much insuring that there will be no more snow fall with accompanying winds. At any rate, I don't know if it will work but the only thing that could go wrong would be a 6 foot drift in the drive, in which case I just won't go back to work until spring~

Yesterday I was reading one of the blogs that I like to follow.  He takes excellent pictures and writes very well too. However, this day a picture he posted reminded of a shot I took last summer on vacation.  His shot was of a Coke machine stuck on the periphery of nowhere, seemingly plugged in but maybe run with solar power.

This is my picture of something we all need “vended”.  Come get your ice cold Coke and your Live Bait.