What Retirement Looks Like

    Today was what amounted for me as a very busy day since retirement!

   I was out by 8:30 a.m. to buy treats for the Executive meeting (muffins or donuts? decisions, decisions) At the meeting by 9:00 and managed to keep myself awake and participate in discussions until noon. Luckily there was plentiful coffee which really helped. Home by 12:30 and cleared some more ice from my driveway before fielding a phone call from the contractor building my shed (more of that later) and quickly heated a bowl of soup for lunch.

   Arrived at Book club by 1:15 for more snacks and again made an effort to join in the discussion but the book wasn't really to my taste so I wasn't fully invested in it. It did get lively at one point so not a totally wasted afternoon. If I'd been at home I'd probably have been napping anyway.

   I ran out of battery power on my way home and had to resort to the gas engine but the car is now plugged in and recharging. This has only happened once before since I bought the car last year as I usually plug it in before it gets too low. It will take 6 hours to recharge.

   Whew, I'm exhausted, especially since I missed my nap! It will be an early night for me. 

Winter definitely not done with us!

   We are being hit by another major weather event and I know it's going to be bad as my dance group was cancelled tonight - it practically never is!

  It started snowing around dusk and looks to continue overnight and well into tomorrow morning so who knows how much of an accumulation we will get. Luckily, I have nothing planned until noon tomorrow so have the morning to dig out. 

    Today I was up and out early as I had one errand to run before being due at the Calabria Bakery at 9:30 for our Hava Java coffee social. We had a great turnout, the best since resuming after lockdown put an end to gatherings. On the way home I dropped into the library to scout out a book I had found online and, luckily, there it was on the shelf. For the first time in ages I was without anything to read. It was a book in the Detective Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri. I also picked up Ian McEwens' latest book "Lessons", which looks to be a corker - early days yet but I am sure I will like it! It was on the "Best Buys" shelf and probably has a long wait list so a good find. At least I am well stocked up if we are, in fact, snowed in!

Big Storm Headed Our Way

    We have been warned! Seemingly tonight and tomorrow Mother Nature is throwing some nasty weather our way. The car is put away for the duration of the storm and I will charge the lithium battery for snowblower overnight. I may just skip Yoga at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow if I have to do some snow clearing. Stay tuned for the latest news and photos - supposed to 10 - 15 cms.

Shrove Tuesday

      Although I am not religious, I still observe this custom as it gives me an opportunity to re-assess some of my bad eating choices by cutting out certain items (i.e. chocolate and alcohol) for a few weeks. So, I will be "dry" until Easter  and may even save some money into the bargain!  

   I was all set to attend a Pancake Breakfast at the Community Centre - had my $5 ticket - then realized it was the same day as the Retired Women Teachers lunch, which I had already paid for! No contest which one to choose and I managed to unload the $5 ticket to a friend. I'm sure she enjoyed the camaraderie of a shared breakfast with friends.

   The lunch, at our local country club (Tam Heather, Google it), was quite delicious although we had to share a space with the curlers who were out in force. Seemingly there was a Bonspiel in progress and much jollity when it finished. No matter, by that time we were well fed (lovely salad and the most tender stuffed chicken, plus cake and coffee) and our speaker had a loud voice!

    So now it's a time of abstinence and mindfulness, to refresh my body and my spirits with a little self-control. Wish me luck!