Week Ahead April 13, 2025
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| Photo pexel.com |
I'm riding up with a sister to see my brother at the hospital in St Paul later this morning. We haven't any updates yet on when he'll be able to come home. Weather pending, I'd like to get outside for more bits and starts but also would like to get the kitchen table painted.
Tomorrow I'm meeting my daughter to collect her dog early. Shortly after, pup will be brought in the vet for elder dog checkup, sedated shave, and get his updated prescriptions. That'll be a hefty cost, but I do budget for pet care. I've got book club tomorrow night, changed multiple times due to schedules. There's another visitation to stop at for an old HS friends mother before bookclub.
Tuesday I'm getting the other offer of free bricks. My son is available to help me. I fear I'm taking on more than I can chew, but after seeing Kay's progress I want to give it a good go. Mine is way less ambitious than she's tackling.
The rest of the week I'll play by ear between yard, house, pets, and myself. My younger daughter and cat will stay the weekend. Her roommate is going home for Easter. She does have her Sunday job but figure it'll be done by noon. We're going to my sister's for brunch but I'll make a small Easter supper too with ham, cheesy potatoes,dinner rolls and green beans casserole for just my family. I'll get a plant for my MIL and we'll run it over to her at some point on the weekend.
It feels odd knowing the whole week is mine. It's a little like being so hungry, then presented with a buffet and you don't know what to choose first. My free time feels like a buffet.
The first few weeks I was laid off, I had a list of projects that I could choose from each day. They weren't requirements or time bound (some days I had things that were date specific as well), but just items to choose from off of the list. I liked that approach, and typically made it a goal to choose 2-3 items each day from the list until most of them were done. The really yucky ones somehow were saved until the end. ;-) - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteI dod the same at the beginning of lockdown, 2020. It was a good way to help me find purpose and direction at the time when everything suddenly stopped.
DeleteToday is getting pup to the vet then later picked up, a stop for a few grocery odds and ends, meal planning, more yard tidy if I can avoid the rain. I'd like to tackle at least one delayed cleaning project, either or both the box window in the kitchen and the bakers rack. both are over cluttered.
DeleteOh, yes, budgeting for pet care. Been there, done that and wish I had a dog so I could do it again. Enjoy your "buffet" of time for yourself.
ReplyDeleteHe's officially 14 so I do not know how long we have with him, but I want his days to be good.
DeleteI'm so sorry your brother is ill. I hope he gets to go home soon. Being at home can be a mental boost, for him m and your SiL.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll soon get used to having the entire week as yours. I usually keep pretty busy, and it sounds like you'll be busy also. It does give one lots of freedom in schedule. Enjoy!
It's not looking like he'll ever be home unless all of us are able to support full time caregiving and daily home care. I can help with house stuff and errands, but do not have the mental capacity for the health care-I admit that.
DeleteThe whole week IS yours. Time IS yours. You will get the hang of this!
ReplyDeleteSlowly, maybe but I am not there yet. Even just having coffee with no time constraints is a new feeling.
DeleteIt sounds like you've got your share of social activities this week - or at least interacting with others. It will take a while to get used to. I was talking to a friend who retired last year. She'd put it off for so long, but now she wishes she'd retired sooner! The first few weeks she said she kept waking up for work. It took a bit of getting used to.
ReplyDeleteI hope the visit with your brother goes well and you get some news on when he can come home.
With a holiday week, lots going on. The pets are a built in social network.
DeleteI am glad to see you are going to be with others this week. IT has taken TheHub over 6 months to realize he can do things during the week instead of waiting until the weekend, and he has just started going places with his friends. I go out with mine, usually during the day, and am encouraging him to do the same.
ReplyDeleteGet the free bricks knowing they can wait in your yard until you are ready to put them in. Shoot, if you want to you can even place just one brick a day!
I like the one brick a day approach. That's my kind of style!
DeleteI think this guy will want them all gone, but they will sit for a while at my house. I'm not the dynamic duo of Kay and Kim.
DeleteEnjoy your first full week of retirement. I'm sorry to hear about your brother and uncle.
ReplyDeletePart of retiring was to be more present for family. I hope I can be if more help for my SIL and support my MIL.
DeleteYour last paragraph is a perfect way to describe retirement! I've been retired for over five years, and some days still feel that way.
ReplyDeleteEven today, getting a few things done, look around and can't decide what's next!
DeleteKay here! Sam you will love being retired. I made a plan and tackled it like Hawaii Planner. I went through every room, drawer and closet and purged. I worked more in the yard. I ate better, I just planned better, and I slept so much better. The stress was gone! Still loving retirement but not loving the less income. However, I have enough to meet my needs and then some. So worth it!
ReplyDeleteI figure after losing my husband and already having to go down to one income with basically the same expenses, that was t going to. E my worry. If course it is now with the stupid crap happening to retirement accounts. But yes, little by little I'll figure out the best use of my time...I hope.
DeleteEnjoy your first week of freedom! I'm sure you'll find some kind of a rhythm to suit you eventually but there's no rush! Good luck with the vet visit. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's weird on his annual vet day. I miss pup. The big dog will get an extra walk. Thanks for the good energy.
DeleteI hope you enjoy your first full week of retirement. :)
DeleteIt bothers me, but Tommy is not at all worried about his retirement account. He never checks it. I remember endings that left me wondering 'what's next?' It took me a bit to figure it all out.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to hear I'm not alone. I hope Tommy is right and not worrying is probably a better mindset. Wishing you well.
DeleteI do hope you will allow yourself wind down and relax time these first weeks. You've worked hard and you deserve to rest, nap, sleep, wander, wonder and do something "in the moment". there is so much "Unwinding" to do separating from worklife. It's OK to 'do nothing', we're human beings not human doings. Nobody will take care of you like you will and you have earned this!
ReplyDeleteI've done a quite a bit of nothing. I'm lacking motivation but it'll kick in eventually.
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