days_unfolding

Woke up at 6:30 AM.

I had an online seminar at work given by a committee for which I'm a liaison, so that took up at lot of my day. Otherwise, I've been discussing retirement with my dad. (I asked him how he decided when to retire.) My dad also thinks that I should "paper trade" his investment system until I get the money from the trust. I need to write the trust about wanting the money, but I've been dreading the explosion.

I was discussing with my dad things that I want to do in retirement, and learn photography is one of them. I ran across a photography tour of Yosemite, which would check two things off of my list---photography and seeing Yosemite.

My list: Mostly learning things. I wanted to learn how to do Web programming, but the classes at the U of I were too fast-paced, so I want to work on it at my pace, and maybe volunteer to do Web site work for non-profits. Also, work on programming for mobile devices. Learn more about economics. Work on my languages (Italian and French). The big thing that I want to do is spend a year studying Italian in Italy (and possibly French as well). Learn singing (I belong to a chorus), piano, and guitar. Garden. I don't have a plan for a part-time job but am open to one. Basically doing stuff that I'm already doing but with more time to do it. Oh, and start writing again (a mix of non-fiction and poetry). And I want to learn to write songs. I want to write humorous songs about getting older and post them on YouTube. And learn photography. I have a lot of resources about it, but haven't had the time to put into it.

My therapist said that Obamacare gets more expensive as you get older, and COBRA is expensive, so I should wait until I'm eligible for Medicare to retire (2.5 years). I need to learn more about it. I think that Fidelity has a webinar about Medicare that I'll look for.

Got the recycling out, including a ton of plant boxes that were on the porch. I have more boxes inside, but I’ll get them out next week. I strained my knee in taking out the recycling, sigh. I need replacement parts :)

I forgot to mention that I received more plants. The ferns for my shade garden look like happy little plants.

Found a really nice tan leather blazer in a bag of stuff from Stitch Fix. Went on the Internet to find ideas of how to wear it and bought a white sweater and green jeans. Actually, I think that I’m going to wear it on the Detroit-Chicago flight with blue jeans and a white sweater.

Woke up at 8 AM. I’m trying to convince myself not to go back to sleep because I need to practice guitar and voice.

I bought a cashmere sweater and skirt in burgundy from Quince. Actually, I bet that it would look good with the tan blazer. Or better yet, the pink leather blazer!

Bought some music flashcards. Practiced guitar.

We almost finished the crawl space. I have some papers that I need to go through, and there is some stuff way back in the space. Also, there is a ton of stuff that needs to be shredded, and I discovered that the UPS Store will do that. So I need to gather the shred stuff in boxes before I go there for my Amazon returns tomorrow.

I was sneezing from the dust in the crawl space until the organizer recommended that I wear a mask. It helped.

Had lunch and fed the hordes. Now I'm practicing voice.

Music theory and voice went really well. Guitar was a fiasco. Ah well. I’m kind of muttering,”I do this for fun?” I did buy a system of learning guitar chords that I’ll try when I get back. My teacher wants me to learn “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” but I’m stymied by the C chord.

I’m really tired. I think that I’ll get my laundry started, pack up some stuff in my backpack, set up the AirTags in my suitcases, and go to bed. I need to do some cleaning in the morning.

Mimi has been complaining up a storm, probably because she didn’t get her snuggles this afternoon. She wants me to go lie down. Now she’s snacking.

Got the laundry started. Filled a litter box. Gathered stuff to wash the bathroom floor in the morning. Packed up most of the things to go in my backpack. I couldn't get the AirTag containers that attach to fabric open, so I just tucked the AirTags in pockets of my luggage.

I just remembered that I have French homework. Le sigh. I can't remember what sections of the book we were in though, so I guess that I won't do it.

Time to crash and get up early to clean.

I got to the hair salon way early. The stylist texted me and said that she had a cancellation, and could I come earlier? I said, “Sure, I’m outside.” I got a really cute bob haircut, chin length. She blow-dried it straight, and it made me wonder if I should get a styling brush and bring my blow-dryer to Kauai. I made another appointment with her in December. I bought a combo blow-dryer and styling brush in one. It’ll be smaller in my suitcase.

Did my music theory homework. Practiced guitar and voice. I just pulled a muscle in my back and think that I need to lie down. I'll email my teachers. Mimi couldn’t care less that my back hurts. I’m warm and that’s what matters. Had a nice nap, but my back still hurts. My nice music teacher asked me if I want to reschedule.

Hmm. I need to take out the recycling and do laundry, but my back still hurts. There was something that I needed to do online, but I don't remember what it was. I need to pack, but the same issue applies, Maybe I should just go to bed early. Zara wants food. Mimi is complaining too. Maybe I could study French. Oh, I need to pick out my BistroMD meals (done).

Hmm. shadowkat on DW mentioned that her mom is at a retirement place called The Cypress at Hilton Head. I looked at some of their videos and kind of like the place. It's something to keep in mind as I get older. They have skilled nursing care there. Maybe I should plan a trip to Hilton Head in the future.

Oh, I can work on my vision statement (done?). Oh, I need to do my French homework too (done). I signed up for the LingQ app to learn Italian and French vocabulary. I think that I'll go to bed now.

My strategy with eBay is if I find something that I like, I wishlist it, and often the sellers will give a discount. It worked for the blue tweed blazer that I wanted.

Woke up around 8 AM. Selected my BistroMD meals. Started a load of laundry. Got boxes for the packing person. Had a good petting session with Mimi. Found my missing pair of glasses; they were on the floor in the bedroom. I don't regret ordering more though.

Took a short nap. OMG, there are more pictures in the other dresser in my room. Crud. The packing tape order that I placed was delayed. I just placed an order at Mejier for more tape. I want the packing person to pack up all the pictures in my room. Plus, I need to pack up the clothes that I'm returning.

Oh okay. I have a hair appointment next Sunday, and I had the thought in the shower that the organizer scheduled for that Sunday, but it was the following weekend.

Oh. The packer is having car trouble, so she wanted to reschedule. And I started my Italian homework, but Italian isn't until next week. I am confused :) Scheduling stuff is a pain. Oh good, the pet sitter confirmed for my Kauai trip.

Zara wants lunch! Now! I’m making my lunch too. I got up to order a book for the Kindle called Honest Aging, mentioned in the Washington Post, and both girls got excited because why would I get up except to feed them? They're charmingly self-centered. I fed them.

Crud. I put clothes in the dryer, and it was making a weird noise. I might have to replace it sooner rather than later. And I put a load in the wash, and I'm almost out of detergent, so I placed a Kroger order too. I also ordered blue dress pants to go with the blazer and blue top.

Got the tape. Yay. I’m practicing guitar and my chords are going better.

I booked a cleaner for Friday. Ordered more boxes. Urgh, I have a headache, but I've been practicing voice. I think that I need to power through. Okay, I've got my song memorized. Back to guitar. I'm getting hungry.

My music teacher was nice to reschedule me for a half-hour later. I told her that it wasn’t necessary this week because no Italian, but she decided to stick with the time.

Oh no! I lost my voicemail when I switched phones, including voicemails from mom! I need to see if I can get them back.

Music lessons went well. I have a bunch of homework, and I'm learning a new song as well. I need to order more guitar picks (done). We're also having an issue with printing off one of the books that we're using. I bought an electronic version of the book, but it will let me print it only three times. I'm thinking that I should go to Kinko's and print the whole 280 pages off.

Zara wants food. I thought that she was trying to con me, but she’s right, I didn’t give them dinner. (I can tell because her pill is in the pill splitter.) So I’ll feed them and take a short nap. I’m doing mass quantities of laundry because I want to start packing for Hawaii.

I reminded my Italian/French teacher that the lesson tomorrow should be French, and she said "perfect- perfetto-parfait :). So I guess that we've got the schedule worked out.

Tried to nap but couldn’t sleep. Gathered up clothes to pack. I'm getting a crashing headache, so I think that I'll go to sleep and do stuff in the morning.

I looked into Ancestry DNA because it’s something that I wanted to do for a long time. But it takes six to eight weeks after getting the kit, which would put me in December, when I’m not sure when I’ll be where. Maybe I could get it for myself as a Christmas present.

Oh, what a morning. I woke up early, but decided that I wanted to go back to sleep for a half-hour. And I overslept until a quarter to nine AM, with my French lesson scheduled at 10. I jammed through the shower and fed the cats. I had enough time to put my makeup on, but I was getting a headache because I needed to eat, and I wouldn't have time to eat until after the organizing session. So I gave up and told my French teacher that I wouldn't make the lesson and just charge me. Then I had breakfast. While I was eating, I noticed the handyman outside looking at the windows. I joined him and we did a walkthough of the painting that needs to be done, and he also said that he'd do the powerwashing first. I also reminded him about the gutters. He said that it all needed to be done ASAP, before it gets really cold. I thought, "Haven't I been saying that for a while?" But whatever. It looks like it really will get done now.

At that point, I gulped down the rest of my breakfast and put on my makeup. Then the organizers were here. We almost finished the living room. I have lots of homework, including getting the dumpster emptied, getting someone to take stuff out of the storage space and put the stuff that I'm keeping in the storage space, and pulling my stuff out of the kitchen and breezeway. And finishing the living room.

I'm leaning heavily towards getting the Apple Watch. The reason is that I don't feel really safe here with so much stuff to trip on. But I need to check my wrist measurement first. Okay, done and ordered. It should get here tomorrow. I should be able to sell my Fitbit Sense.

Took a long nap. Started tackling the kitchen table.

I forgot to mention that I did something to both knees today, and they hurt, so no workout today. I can't wait to get the weight off my knees. Got the rower plugged in. Got the app set up. Apparently they do have a “scenic row,” which is what I want. Got the batteries in the stepper.

I have dishes soaking in the sink, so I need to do them and go to bed. And practice guitar and voice. I have my meeting with the photography teacher at noon. Oh, and I need to get ready for Italian, but I'll do that in the morning.

I have a dilemma. I found a site that is selling #mauistrong t-shirts with the proceeds going to the Maui Humane Society. They're really nice shirts. But by the time that I wear short sleeves again, I'll be a different size. I suppose that I could get a couple for my Kauai trip. I did, and they also had a hoodie that I bought.

It's nice to believe that I will lose the weight. But if I keep it up, I should.

Submitted a Kroger order for paper towels and frozen yogurt bars.

Got the dining room ready to work on. I'm taking a break and am going to tackle the living room. Got the living room ready. Now I'll go through the boxes that I didn't finish last week until I have to take a shower.

We got the dining room done!!!! And we even started on the living room. There is a dead creature in the basement that I need to get rid of. Ugh. The dumpster is almost full. The organizer said that she was willing to work Thanksgiving weekend.

I found some crinkly foil balls and decided that they were a cat toy. Mimi is having a fine time playing with one. Zara is also interested, but Mimi won't share.

Took a long nap. Man, going through my mom's stuff takes it out of me. I had two pairs of eyes staring at me. Yes, the cats' dinner was late. Mine too, but they don't care if I eat :)

I'm starting to figure out what to do on Kauai and booking things. I'm wondering about storing my luggage the last day that I'm there because I'm taking a red-eye flight. I sent an email about it. We've got that worked out. Booked a luau. Do I want to do mountain tubing? A lot of it is underground. Hmm. I booked some other tours, with a couple to think about.

I can't find the batteries that I bought. Shit. Paid some bills. I need to practice guitar and singing and go to sleep. I need to clean off the kitchen table tomorrow.

Hmm. Verizon is offering the iPhone 14, which is what Erik has, for $8.33 a month for 36 months (for 512GB). And their plan is cheaper than AT&T. I think that I'll go for that. I don't need the new shiny iPhone. And I can get a purple phone! Oh heck, I think that the deal is online only. I might need help transferring files from my Android. I found out how to transfer files. I'll have to install apps though.

Oh, I need to check Verizon's international coverage. I know that AT&T has it. Verizon has TravelPass, in which you pay only $10 a day for overseas coverage only on days that you use the phone overseas. That's cheaper than AT&T.

I ordered some long-sleeved tops to wear under my hoodies from Walmart. I'm on the hunt for more hoodies. Okay, I ordered some hoodies from Buddha Groove and Cosmic Clothing Co. I also ordered another pair of warm pajamas for winter. I think that I'm set.

Had a nice nap. Mimi was snuggling with me. It's cat-snuggling weather. I tried lying down again but couldn't sleep. I think working on the chaos in my bedroom after a shower and lunch would help. I need to do lots of laundry.

I was thinking of taking a shower, but I was getting a headache, which is usually a sign that I need to eat, plus Zara wanted to be fed NOW, so I went downstairs. I started a load of laundry.

The organizers found $40 that Mom had tucked away in a teapot. I think that will be walking around money, which got depleted on the trip.

Now that I've eaten, I want to nap. I could do a half hour, but I need to practice guitar and singing because I didn't practice this week because it was a zoo of a week. I dozed for a half hour.

I forgot to mention that sometimes my organizer and I find some humor in the proceedings. Mom had a picture of the Virgin Mary in which the eyes open and close when you tilt the picture. We dubbed her "Creepy Mary" :)

Guitar and singing went well. My teacher is a great teacher, and not all great singers are great teachers. I think that I lucked out this time.

WTF? I tried to pull my belt in past the holes in it. I'll need a new belt soon!

Ack! I'm trying to sign up with Verizon and am running into difficulties. First, the credit application said that I needed to call them, so I did. The person whom I talked to said that she didn't know why it said that and that I was approved for $7000. She then said that she could finish the application for me. But she needed the account number and PIN from Google Fi. I wound up having to call Google Fi to get it. The Verizon person said that she would call me back, but she might have gotten hung up with someone else. I called back and got someone who didn't sound like she knew what she was doing, but eventually my order went through. Then Verizon wanted me to take a picture of my driver's license, and it rejected picture after picture. Sigh. I think that I'm done now.

I put laundry in the dryer and a new load in the washer. It's too late to start anything new now, so I think that I'll go to sleep. I've been yawning.

Paid my credit card bill. Checked on my student loan payments, and they're going along well.

Kind of an interesting card spread with The Wild and Sacred Feminine Deck. I'm in the process of transformation, and if I do so with integrity and reverence for the earth, I will receive unconditional love. This kind of backs up my plan to get Mom's stuff in the hands of people who will use it.

Woke up at 6 AM. Used the washroom and went back to sleep. Woke up at 8 AM. Used the washroom and went back to sleep. Woke up at 10:30. Okay, that's better. Both cats are upstairs with me.

Got the Web cam. Yay. I realized that I need a USB hub, so I ordered one to be delivered this afternoon. Got the chain for the lotus necklace. Also, got my travel mirror for the train.

I had an omelette that I didn't like for breakfast, which reminded me to select the BistroMD meals for next shipment (done).

I pulled a card from the Wild and Sacred Feminine Deck and got wholeness. It said to honor your dark side as well. I don't know why I'm obsessed with this deck, but it has good things to say.

Had a nice nap. Woke up before the alarm. Mimi is zonked out on the bed.

Got the USB hub. Excellent. Got my Magellan's order, including the packable hat. I'll take it with me on my train trip in case Dad and I go for a walk. And I got the shorts with an elastic waistband for Kauai.

I started looking at restaurants on Poipu Beach in Kauai, where I am staying. I have to check when I get in because a lot of them close at 9. Then I looked for a poke place because I'll probably hang out around Poipu on the first day, and I like poke.

Zara did her "food?" noise while I made my lunch. I did the math and it was about time to feed them, so I did.

Picked up recycling and garbage near the computer. My back hurts.

Got the Web cam set up for my guitar lesson. Yikes, it's 4:30 already. Practiced guitar and singing. I'm enjoying the guitar except for the dreaded C chord :)

Guitar...didn't go great, but I got good feedback. Voice went okay. She wants me to learn "Knocking on Heaven's Door" for voice and guitar, but I just countered with "Forever Young". I'll practice both. I need a music stand for guitar and just ordered one. Sheesh. Music is expensive :) I just ordered a book of Bob Dylan songs with guitar chords.

Zara thinks that I should feed her every four hours. I do not agree.

Got some garbage and recycling out. Why am I tired? I tried on a bunch of clothes. I tried on a strapless bra only to find that it wasn't strapless and was 10 inches too small. Texted the company and got a return label. I ordered a strapless bra from somewhere else. I think that I need to eat now because I'm getting a headache. Then I'll take clothes upstairs to hang up.

But I discovered that I can take selfies by telling Google to take them. Awesome.

Hung up the clothes. I think that's enough for tonight. I'll post pictures of a couple of dresses from Ann Taylor.

Hmm. It's still a little early, but I'm burnt out. Maybe I'll read my book about the GoPro because I want to take pictures from the train for my YouTube channel. Maybe I should set up my YouTube channel.

Fed the ravening hordes, who weren't thrilled with me sleeping on the job.

I'm trying to order diet cola from Meijer, but their Web site is flaking. Sigh. Okay, their app worked.

Cool. I've been trying to set a session with my therapist while I'm in Chicago. She set it for noon, when I'll be in Union Station. I told her that, and she set one during her personal time at 10. Thanks to her!

Mimi was complaining up a storm, so I gave her some dry food. Loudmouth cat :) She ate a couple of mouthfuls and walked away. Cats!

Down five pounds total so far.

Man, I'm feeling groggy today.

Mom said that she didn't have enough time in the day to work on the house, and she was skipping sleep and meals. I was like "You're retired. How much time do you need?" Now that I'm working on the house, I get it. This place is a LOT of work. I think that it was too much house for her. And for me.

Okay. The new life coach was very helpful. She said to set a goal for one thing per day (at least during the week). And she said to look into grief counseling and hiring an organizer. She also said to look at my hard stop in December (I start classes again in January, so I want to be done by then), and back up and schedule deadlines. I'm also thinking of hiring an organizer when I unpack my stuff in Urbana.

Got this week's food put away. Tuned my guitar. I'll tune it again before the lesson, but I figured that it would be way out of tune and it was.

Napped briefly. Had my guitar lesson. She wants to see me hold the guitar, which is hard with the laptop. I have a Web cam floating around, so I need to find it. But it went well. Singing went well too.

The washer repair guy, who is coming tomorrow, asked me to sweep near the washer, so I did that.

I've been fighting a headache all day, probably because I was tired, so I need to get to sleep.

Oh, I have a call with an organizer tomorrow and one on Monday.

Oh, what a morning. I woke up early, but decided to go back to sleep until right before work. Logged on, and was going through my email right before a meeting, when the outlet in which I have the router and laptop plugged in stopped working. I kind of freaked out. Then I discovered that the power was out, and I thought, "Okay". I went outside for a while. I came back in and the power was on, but that outlet still wasn't working. I needed a three-prong to two-prong adapter, and I was going to get myself together to go to Lowe's, when I decided to use the one from the freezer because I haven't transferred food to it yet. And I grabbed a very long extension cord that I have. I plugged in the extension cord and went to sit down while the Internet was coming up, but when I sat on the side of the chair, it tipped over, and I fell and hit my back. But I did get back online. I ordered a shorter extension cord and a bunch of adapters from Amazon.

I got my Daily Look box, and I'm less than thrilled with what they sent me. I'll keep a gray hoodie if it fits. Maybe some jeans.

Oh fuck. The tunic tops that I ordered from Woman Within are being shipped to Urbana. It hasn't shipped yet, but they said that they couldn't change the order because it's being processed. They said to call tomorrow to find out who the carrier is and call the carrier. Did I say fuck?

I'm singing "Life is Sucking" to the tune of "I Feel Pretty" ("Life is sucking/Yes, it's sucking/It is sucking and yucking and gross/Life is sucking").

My back hurts where I hit it. I took some acetaminophen and told work that I was going to lie down for a while and log on later. Slept. I'm hammered. My back still hurts.

I missed the book club because I was sleeping.

My Buddha Groove stuff has shipped. I bought a zafu cushion from them and a singing bowl from eBay, so I'll be set for meditation.

I wrote the letter and check for trimming the trees growing over the fence to the neighbor's yard. Placed a Kroger order for tomorrow. Boho Peak had a sale of jewelry for buy three, pay for two, so I got a free ring as well as a bracelet and necklace. I'm wondering if I should wear my hippy-dippy clothes when I meet my dad :)

I got my guitar book! Yay! My first lesson is on Sunday before or after my voice lesson. (I'm not sure how my teacher wants to do the dual lessons.)

Now I'm going to go back to work for a while. Oh, I need to remember to order more shampoo and conditioner because I'll be filling bottles for my trip.

Mimi was complaining up a storm, so I gave her some dry food. Loudmouth cat :)

I ordered a laptop sleeve for the laptop that I'm taking on the trip with me.