It’s Starting To Look a Lot Like Retirement

July 11, 2012 ~ JodiLea

I have 8 more working days left at my day-job. I packed up some stuff from my office and brought it home today (where I had to pack it again …). I try to bring something home everyday, so moving out won’t be such a big deal the last couple days.

My employee badge was exchanged for a temporary one, that says: “EXPIRES 19-JUL-2012” – this is if I don’t turn the thing in (badge) when I exit the place on the 19th. If I want to sneak past the guard at the gate and get in illegally. Like that will occur to me. I have gone through that gate for 28+ years now, and I’m ready to stop.

I want to do my own things. Like write a novel (or two), and at least one screenplay. I sometimes fantasize about Best Seller lists and the Oscars. Wouldn’t that be a hoot? But my number one thrill is getting so involved in the story that I am there, and it unfolds right before my eyes as I write it down.

Old Notebooks

I have a drawer full of old notebooks with handwritten stories, beginnings of novels & poems. I wrote them before people had computers with Microsoft on them. Before spell check.

I also want to finish up other kinds of projects started long ago: quilts, rugs, a family cookbook. And who knows what new bees are yet to fly up my bonnet! I think all these changes at once are going to be an adventure… 😉

photo credit: aepoc via photo pin cc

Got Valium?

July 1, 2012 ~ JodiLea

Forget the milk.

I spent the past week trying to get through 954 emails that had piled up in my mail box at work, during the 2 weeks I was out. I scheduled a meeting with our department’s top management to formally give them my retirement date (July 19th). Only 13 more working days to go – and I can’t stop smiling!

At home there isn’t nearly as much smiling. So much to go through and weed out – still! Haven’t I been doing this for months? Not much sorting got accomplished last week – too busy interviewing moving company’s and trying to make up my mind how much packing we could reasonably do on our own to save money.

I put our old office furniture and the rolling cabinet for the microwave up for grabs on Craig’s List. So far not many queries. I probably did it wrong (this was my maiden voyage). I may have to find a charity that will pick up furniture.

To make the week more interesting, I got a call from my doctor’s office about test results that came back “positive” – which, unfortunately, is negative news. Now I must have a more invasive test that will put me out of commission for 1.5 days to overrule or confirm the earlier test. Like I have time for this …

Surprisingly, I am not freaking out. In fact, life has been so f#$%@!g crazy around here that I’m actually looking forward to it. I will be heavily medicated for the test, and that sounds soooo wonderful to me now….

Medications

photo credit: Robert S. Donovan via photo pin cc

Appraisers, Inspectors and Agents – Oh My!

June 24, 2012 ~ JodiLea ~ 2 Comments

“Doing anything fun this weekend?” a friend asks.

“Not at all,” I replied. And at the time, I had no clue about how much fun I would not be having. After cleaning and removing clutter all Saturday morning we were ready for the afternoon inspections. The first one was the comprehensive Home Inspection at noon. The Pool & Spa Inspection was scheduled for 2:00 pm.

The buyer’s, their Real Estate agent, and 6 inspectors showed up early. Both inspections started simultaneously at 11:30 am. We should have gone out to lunch because it was excruciating. But we were home because it was Saturday, our day to do chores. Hubby was mowing lawns and pruning when I got home from running errands. I knew there was trouble when I saw the 5 vehicles parked together at the curb and none belonged to our kids.

It was so weird to see all those people in my house and yard. Using all the appliances, turning on all the lights, leaving the front and back doors wide open, looking into all the cabinets and closets, running water in all the sinks and showers at the same time – full blast. Everything our kids got in trouble for doing. Six strangers were doing this to my house, and California law says I have to let them.

A couple of guys were very rough with things and the blinds in the den got ripped away from the window sill, fell and scratched my new printer. And whoever did it never disclosed that it happened at all. Nice. Then there was a guy commenting about how dirty the windows were. I wanted to throw a bucket of soapy water and a squeegee at him (even though he was right.)

Before Inspection — Our home went from cute……………

The couple wanting to buy the house came in all happy and smiling. After 2 and a half hours of listening to everything wrong with the place, they did not leave happy and smiling. The husband seemed to be particularly depressed. “No doubt looking forward to his honey-do list”, said my hubby knowingly.

I’m certain that we have seen the last of those people. Now I’m incredibly depressed…