1. Retirement is fun, but I am still figuring out how my time should be divided. I totally love having so much time in which I am free to decide what to do, where to go, and when. I am gradually getting a few subbing jobs at the school. I have done only two so far, both not in regular school buildings. I love having substitute work as an option, and this includes the option to say "no." LOVE it! I also want to take on some volunteer work. I have two possibilities in mind, and this is where my time division comes into play. One of the possibilities will be more time-consuming. So I need to figure out how much time I can give away, and how much I'm willing to do. A friend told me it takes a while to figure this all out when one is a new retiree. She is right! I am jealously guarding my time, so I don't know if I want to take on the longer-hours volunteer position or not. (It appeals to me a little more than the other, except for the time commitment.)
2. Reading.. I'm still reading books as much as I can! Recently I finished Driftless by David Rhodes. We read it for our cousins' annual book-club gathering which is coming up soon. We read one book per year. I think that is funny and cool -- an easy-to-accomplish book club assignment! Anyway, Driftless was a very good book; one that I could read again and still get a lot out of it. In fact, my mother has now read it three times, and my sister and aunt read it twice! I still have letters J and Y to finish for my A-Z challenge, but I have been ignoring them, because I started a J book and a Y book, both of which were boring, so I moved on to more interesting books. I am currently reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I think I don't love it as much as other people; it's quite popular right now. It's interesting, but I'm not glued to it as some people say they were.
3. Politics.. I'm opininated and I know sometimes I offend readers who may disagree. I'm passionate about what I believe, so that's where my strong opinions come from, I guess. (And it's my blog, so I get to write about whatever I want, but I do feel squirmy when I offend my readers.) I feel like my politics is wrapped up with my beliefs that we need to help each other and be more of a collective team than we currently are. Sometimes I get very overwhelmed and discouraged about where our world is headed. Today I am feeling optimistic again. I love it when I feel more hopeful.
4. Quilting.. still concentrating on this during most of my daytime hours. I finished a quilt top (below) and quilted and bound this orange baby (above). I finally found some boxes that worked and got some quilts sent off to where they belong. I still have a large pile of projects to complete. It keeps me out of trouble!
5. Entertainment... I get to go to a Twins game and see the new stadium for the first time. I'm excited!
7 comments:
Carol, I think you have done so well with your retirement so far! Open ended time is soo easy to waste, as we all know. I like that you had some plans and goals for your first retirement year and have been working on them. Congratulations! As for your chattiness and politics, it is your blog and you get to write about what is striking you at the moment. No harm in that. I have not been offended by anything you have said, you are expressing your thoughts and feelings well.
Glad so many books are passing through your hands...
Have fun at the Twins game!
The orange quilt is very interesting. I really like the way you put it together. The first time I retired I had a hard time finding something to do so I ended up going back to work. The second time I retired to keep my grandsons and that definitely keeps me busy. We all look forward to retiring but it really does require some shifting of our life.
Carol, while I like the orange quilt very much, I find myself quite drawn to the creamy/crumb one..not quite sure why. It seems to have some "African/native" influence....I am really loving it. The big square/framed little square juxtaposition is intriguing. Good job.
Hi Carol,
I got a nice note in the mail from Candee today--thanks again for organizing that quilt--I will most likely never meet her but I do love to bring people hope and comfort.
Blessings,
Carin
margaretshopechest@yahoo.com
Carol - re "The girl w the dragon tattoo" - the first half of the book, I also wondered what the big deal was; it seemed too random, and I couldn't follow. About half-way through, though, I became glued. And am now well-glued half-way into the second
(and I still can't find the "no reply" option...!)
Oh, I love the orange with the crumbs. The setting for the cream with crumbs is a nice one too. I do love cream--there is always a soothing quality to the quilts with that in them and the crumbs are a plus--of course I love crumbs anyhow! I may be copying your work soon--as soon as I can quit counting the hours til the next pain pill!...Political views--like you my views aren't always shared with many--especially my Utah neighbors, but doesn't there have to be a catylist somewhere! I have though quit writing letters to the editor. I'll let them (my very conservative fear mongers) simmer in their naive juices and pompous "we're better than the rest of the world"--(oh did I just actually say that? :) ***) I work at remaining a fly on the wall and watching where things will go next!
Carol...
I really like that orange quilt!!! Yippee! It looks so happy.
Hope you are doing well.
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