COUNTDOWN!

It has been almost two months since I blogged but my intrepid writing partner Liz has taken up the slack. I have been in a funk for a while and could not settle to writing. I think I am over the hump now as we had a terrific day yesterday as Liz has mentioned. We agreed on lots of new ideas and direction of how we will finish our second book.

The next phase or “chapter” in my life is only three weeks away so I will certainly have the time to devote to writing. I should be ecstatic that the day is almost here after working for 50 years, bar the three years when my children were babies, but I am not, and I don’t know why. I hate the word retire as it conjures up some old lady images to me. Don’t say it! 

I have been taking trips down memory lane and been on a nostalgia bent for a while so now I have to get a grip and start enjoying my family and friends more. I assume, like all change, that I will go through a period of adjustment. My husband is probably shaking in his shoes wondering what jobs I have in store for him.

Saying goodbye to my colleagues at work will be hard as after 10 years many of them are friends. For the last year I have been writing short profiles on many of the staff for a Diversity project and in that way I really got to know them well. I hope it has honed my skills at interviewing to assist me in my writing.

Our car gave up the ghost this weekend and I am scrambling to get a ride with a friend from work until we buy a new car. My husband and I are both procrastinators so we have put off looking, but of course now we are forced to. I know, many people do without cars. My sisters do not drive and either take the bus or ride a bike but where we live here in Canada it is almost impossible to do anything without one. Definitely a car is a necessary evil. I hope I can get my gas out before the car is towed to the junk yard. I had just filled up with $60.00 before the steering went and some awful noise came from the engine. 

Well that’s enough whining. I have my health and lots to be thankful for and if Liz and I put our minds to it we will see our books in print in the near future.

Talk soon,
Slainte,
Pam

Here Comes July

Oh my…see what happens to good intentions?   I can’t believe neither Pam nor I have posted in a month  L   Not that we don’t have anything to talk about –some of it might even be interesting – but the time has once again sped away from us.   Pam is now in the last few weeks of being gainfully employed and is busy with paperwork regarding her retirement and handing over her work duties to others, including myself.  I’ll be wishing her well on the next chapter of her life, but will miss my coffee break buddy very much after the end of July.  She will soon have the luxury of writing to her heart’s content and not having work get in the way!

So let’s see..what’s been happening.   June has been a mixed bag weather wise.    We’ve experienced some wicked storms – beautiful maple trees completely uprooted on the neighbouring street – with lots of rain.  Some very nice sunny summer like days have also been in the mix.   And everything in between.

This past month I’ve been concerned about terrible wildfires in the State of Arizona, where a very good online friend lives. Her daughter’s home was threatened, but has survived, and I have been following email updates and photos.  I can’t imagine what it must be like to live on the edge of being evacuated at a moment’s notice and face the real possibility of losing all that you own. 

Had a nice day yesterday with two of my grandchildren; hopefully all the fresh air and playing let them sleep as well as I did!

A short work week coming up, with Canada Day considerately falling on a Friday this year.   That might mean I’ll be able to take in a fireworks display because the next day won’t be a work one.  Normally I avoid them because they don’t start until almost 9 and then by the time you get home its about 10:30 and my work mornings start far too early for that time.

So an early Happy Birthday Canada!  No place I’d rather call home.

Cheers!

Liz

Milestones

2011 is a year of many milestones for my friends and family and I want to celebrate all of them.
I turned sixty-five this month and I am now officially a senior citizen. I have been told there are many perks that come with that moniker.I already had the hearing aids and glasses and my hair has been grey/white for some time.Because I don’t see very well I have ignored the groves and wrinkles on my face until I looked into one of those 5x magnifying mirrors...yikes it’s scary and we won’t even talk about the body.
I am looking into all the wonderful discounts for the aging person. 10% off at the drug store if I manage to get there on a Tuesday. Restaurants and movies and even cheap bus fares if I decide to use them. The local college have great discounts that I will be looking at in the fall. All in all if you have your health and your marbles it’s not a bad deal as we all know what the alternative is. This is the new .....50, 55. Whatever, maybe I will take up..., Oh who knows, the sky’s the limit.

I know of two babies to be born this year; a niece and a friend. Two weddings, one for the first time and the other, a second go at marital bliss. My friend Claudia will be fifty... my sister Rosemary seventy!!!, and the woman I call my other mother, Bertha, will celebrate ninety five years young. And seventy five years driving a car!!!She just renewed her licence. My oldest grandson will be sixteen and hopes to get his car licence. Perhaps I will ask Bertha to give him some lessons!

One more milestone and it is a biggie for me and my husband. Our oldest son will be forty!!!! This brings such a flood of wonderful memories of when he was born and a toddler. He has turned into a fine human being, husband and father.
Oh yes, one more.. In June, forty five years of servitude for me. Just joking Peter!

On June the 10th, Liz and I will have been writing together for four years and hopefully we are nearing completion of our books and are steps nearer to publication. We have a date next Saturday to have a get together to work on a few more chapters.

I officially retire at the end of July and friends and co-workers keep asking me what I will do with my time. Just imagine getting up every morning and be able to sit at my desk and write. I will manage to squeeze in some cleaning and cooking of course,but mainly just write.

Talk soon,
Slainte,
Pam