Tuesday, November 19, 2002

Christmas is being pushed a little early, don't you think?

"Really, I have everything I want and that is amazing."

LB, December 31, 1995

[I'm occasionally reviewing old, hand-written notebooks and I've decided to quote myself now and again. Do I still have everything I want? And the time to appreciate it?]

I get up early enough. I don't get off to the club until 8 but that works pretty well. I do twenty plus minutes on the stationery bicycle and arm exercises on the machines and ten minutes of rowing to nowhere (stationery rowing?).

It is a glorious, errand day. I shower up and go to Fry's to get an ink cartridge. I also get some paper I needed for my printing projects. I take the time to look at gadgets and computers and DVDs, but I don't buy anything else.

So it is already noon when I get to Dad's. He treats me to enchiladas at Antonio's. He orders exactly what I do because it is easier than deciding for himself.

At his house I try to figure out what's wrong with his CA/CH. I can't...FFP calls a repairman. I call one more time about filing a death claim with this one insurance company. I finally get someone on the phone that acknowledges the policy and she says they mailed instructions on November 6. I doubt it. She finally says that I can send a letter and a death certificate. That I will do. The person on the other end stumbles over a 'condolence' and a 'thank you for your business.' I will, of course, never intentionally give any business to this company. This is ridiculous. I must have called a half dozen times now.

Dad has sorted out some of Mom's belts and I take some more of her clothes to go to the thrift store. I am trying to do this a little bit at a time. It's less trouble and less painful this way, I think.

Dad has his bag packed for Germany. He shows me how everything fits although he's taken some new stuff out to launder before he goes to get the sizing out. He's gone and gotten Euro traveler's checks even. He's gotten the oil changed in the van and washed it. (We will take it to Dallas and spend a couple of days with relatives for Thanksgiving and then he will fly off from there.)

I leave him and go home. I install my new print cartridge and start some more calendars printing. I gather up some of my own stuff that needs to go to the thrift store. I go to the grocery store to pick up a few things and get an HEB gift card for my father-in-law. They shop there all the time. I take the groceries home, drop off the stuff at Top Drawer Thrift Store (where I have to stop and talk to some people I know) and then I go to BookStop where I get some audio tapes...also for my father-in-law.

Errands can be so time-consuming. I will feel bad after all this running about that FFP decides he wants something at the store that we don't have and heads out to the grocery himself at five o'clock. We make more trips to the store because we can!

Forrest has to fast for his surgery and then have it. He decides to have spinach salad and chicken livers with honey mustard as his 'last meal.' I enjoy this high iron meal myself and eat a bit of one of those 'all the vitamins and minerals' cereals for 'dessert.' FFP has some sherbet. Clear liquids tomorrow for him.

I settle in to watch some TV and read. I work the Tuesday NY Times crossword. I get sleepy and doze. SuRu calls about a possible dark dog walk. I just don't have the energy.

Retirement report.

It's been two months! Yes, I retired on September 20 and tomorrow is November 20. Hard to believe.

I'm still exercising more than before although the weight loss I've experienced is best described as neglible. Perhaps because I eat too much, huh?

I'm drinking less but it is hard to say if this is because of retirement or because I tend to follow what FFP does and he is having trouble tolerating any alcohol at the moment. Dad quit, too, in deference to a little kidney or bladder infection. However, without as much alcohol, I tend to drink more cokes, eat more sweets.

I have spent a lot of time sorting through my mother's paperwork and possessions. There is still much to do on the latter but the paperwork is declining. I have spent time being my dad's "travel agent and secretary" as he describes it.

I have spent sixteen or so days traveling out of the sixty or so days of retirement (or around 25 %) traveling. I expect, long term, that this is higher than will be normal (or affordable). I spent a fair amount of time booking and preparing to travel as well.

I have read more although the papers seem to still pile up. (Being out of town exacerbates that.) I have read a few books. I haven't conducted the exhaustive studies of various disciplines that I promised myself. Although I have brushed up on simple German. (See below.)

I drive more. I run errands, drive around a long way just for the heck of it. While driving I listen to public radio or language tapes. I listened to an audio book on the Kings and Queens of England on the way back from Colorado.

I shop a lot more. I have been going through the stores where I shop, checking prices and looking for where to get things. I haven't necessarily spent more money, though. As Christmas approaches and the crowds swell, I plan to avoid shops more.

I spend more time with my computer and so I am increasingly wanting to buy a new one! By the same token, I'm spending the time to 'use what I have' and figure it out.

I am writing this journal and I've written one short article. But I haven't done as much writing as I would have liked.

I haven't done anything particularly charitable although we have volunteered the house for various fund-raisers or receptions for non-profits.

I like retirement and I feel good almost every day.

I have trouble deciding what to do and when to do it. What to work on next. Perhaps some sort of artificial structure is in order.

I feel that I'm getting more and more reclusive all the time.

JUST TYPING
Nothing scheduled.
Really.
Make up a plan.