I've gotten used to being off on Wednesdays. It's the middle of the week, so it comes at a good time. Everybody else is either at school or at work, so I have the place to myself. I feel guilty some of the time because I don't have the energy or the desire (mostly the desire) to get up and do more around the house.It is my laundry day, so I don't have much of a choice there.
I get to catch up on TV, watch Mike and Mike in the morning, a couple of old movies during the day, read the newspaper at a bit more leisurely pace, and, perhaps best of all, eating breakfast and drinking coffee in the morning to my heart's content! I'll tell on myself and admit to a couple of bowls of Wheaties and 3 or 4 pieces of toast along with a pot of coffee. Then a couple of sandwiches with chips and cookies for lunch, then dinner. I joke that I think I'm making up for not eating that much during the rest of the week!
I also use Wednesday to catch up on my Scouting duties. I can easily put in two or three hours of work doing the paperwork and planning for the Cub Scout pack and the Boy Scout troop. I think the other leaders probably get tired of me, because I can fill up their INBOX like nobody's business! Today it came in handy because we had Round Up last night, so I had 11 new boys to input, plus sending an information packet to the families. But that's why I've taken on the roles I have in Scouting, because most of the stuff I have to do can be done anytime, at my convenience.
I'm still way too protective of my day off, and I recognize this. After those almost-30 years in the restaurant business, with all those 15 hour days and 6 or 7 day weeks, I still feel like being at home is a rare thing, and must be revered. I know that's where my lack of interest in doing chores comes from. I'm actually better at cutting the grass or cleaning the kitchen after a workday than on my off day.
So now it's time to get into the evening. Dinner, a couple of hours of TV and some light reading, then that alarm clock going off tomorrow at 4:10AM. Maybe I'll sleep in and set it for 4:15. It's been a long day...
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
"Age is Just a Number"...that reminds you how old you are
My paternal grandfather, Lawrence McNeeley, died in 1974 at the age of 69. I never knew him. My maternal grandfather, Ermine Doyle (Papa), died in 1964 at 74. That's an average of 71. My Dad, Richard, will turn 80 in December. So I should be good until about 80 or so (especially since I quit smoking in June). I'm 55 years, 9 months, and 5 days old, so I got a good shot of doing this for another 25 years. Now that's encouraging.
I don't know what it should be like, but I don't FEEL 55. Fifty-five sounds old. Just think about it. The double nickle. FIFTY-FIVE. I just sent in a check for an AARP membership. I look at the Dow Jones average and think about my 401(k). For goodness sake, my YOUNGER brother decided to retire from the National Guard today after 30 years in service! When you really start to think of it like this, it's a wonder I don't eat dinner at 5PM, wear those things that say they look and feel like "normal" underwear and keep my teeth in a glass.
Know what makes me feel good about my age? I'm twice as old as some of the folks I work with and I can run circles around them. I'm pretty good on computers because I had to learn how to work them before there was Graphic Interfaces and I had to know basic DOS commands (do you even know what that is?) just to get a program running. I've been through the "wild" phases of life, and the "responsible" parts, and now can find a happy middle ground. And in that vein, I have a couple of new phases coming up over the next decade to experience.I make a big deal of talking about feeling my age, but that's just a joke. The only real change in my attitude over the last, say, 30 years is I've gotten a little cynical, and to be honest, I don't like that! I wish I could still look at things at bit more naively. But that's the way it goes.
So, if asked, my advice to some of my younger friends would be pretty simple: Just do it! You stumble through, and, with your heart in the right place, you make the best choices and decisions you can, and hope for the best. If it doesn't work out exactly the way you wanted, mutter a curse and move on. You'll get another chance to make a better choice soon. Remember, you're only as old as you feel (so I must be 100).
I don't know what it should be like, but I don't FEEL 55. Fifty-five sounds old. Just think about it. The double nickle. FIFTY-FIVE. I just sent in a check for an AARP membership. I look at the Dow Jones average and think about my 401(k). For goodness sake, my YOUNGER brother decided to retire from the National Guard today after 30 years in service! When you really start to think of it like this, it's a wonder I don't eat dinner at 5PM, wear those things that say they look and feel like "normal" underwear and keep my teeth in a glass.
Know what makes me feel good about my age? I'm twice as old as some of the folks I work with and I can run circles around them. I'm pretty good on computers because I had to learn how to work them before there was Graphic Interfaces and I had to know basic DOS commands (do you even know what that is?) just to get a program running. I've been through the "wild" phases of life, and the "responsible" parts, and now can find a happy middle ground. And in that vein, I have a couple of new phases coming up over the next decade to experience.I make a big deal of talking about feeling my age, but that's just a joke. The only real change in my attitude over the last, say, 30 years is I've gotten a little cynical, and to be honest, I don't like that! I wish I could still look at things at bit more naively. But that's the way it goes.
So, if asked, my advice to some of my younger friends would be pretty simple: Just do it! You stumble through, and, with your heart in the right place, you make the best choices and decisions you can, and hope for the best. If it doesn't work out exactly the way you wanted, mutter a curse and move on. You'll get another chance to make a better choice soon. Remember, you're only as old as you feel (so I must be 100).
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Day ONE
So, I thought I'd give this a shot. I don't know who in the world would be interested in what goes on with me, but I think it may be cleansing sometimes to sit here and empty the brainpan of the stuff that piles up in there.
And I find that a LOT gets in there. My job is such that it doesn't quite require 100% focus all the time, so my mind will wander while I'm working. I catch myself drifting away mentally watching TV on occasion (sometimes it's so mindless). There just seems to be so much cluttering up and getting in the way of what I really want to accomplish and do with myself. And no matter what anyone says, I believe that those plans and goals change on a regular basis. You have to update yourself based on reality and changing events. I had my boss tell me the other day that her goals were the same today as they were when she was 20. Really? You're 55 years old, and you still plan to be rich and a CEO someday? That's what most people I knew then wanted. Or were your goals really that low?
My goals have changed significantly since I was 20, or even 40. Back then, everything was essentially career-oriented. CEO, well-paid if not rich, recognized as a major leader in the company. Now, I'm 55, and my career goal? Not to be fired. Or to put it more positively, to keep my job. I want to go to work, do my job 40 hours a week, and go home. If I was given the opportunity to do something more fulfilling, now that the boys are older, I'd change those goals again. Part of the reason I started this blog was because I've gotten a renewed interest in doing something where I could be creative. But, for right now, my goals are ALL family related. I want the kids to get their education. I want Monica to be happy in her job and at home. I want to make some small, meaningful contribution in other people's lives. You know, those kinds of things.
So anyway, look to this spot for my observations on my day, basically. As the title says, whatever comes to mind may end up here. Facebook and Twitter seem better suited for the quick, down and dirty "Hey it's raining" sort of stuff. I like to think I'm a little deeper than that!
And I find that a LOT gets in there. My job is such that it doesn't quite require 100% focus all the time, so my mind will wander while I'm working. I catch myself drifting away mentally watching TV on occasion (sometimes it's so mindless). There just seems to be so much cluttering up and getting in the way of what I really want to accomplish and do with myself. And no matter what anyone says, I believe that those plans and goals change on a regular basis. You have to update yourself based on reality and changing events. I had my boss tell me the other day that her goals were the same today as they were when she was 20. Really? You're 55 years old, and you still plan to be rich and a CEO someday? That's what most people I knew then wanted. Or were your goals really that low?
My goals have changed significantly since I was 20, or even 40. Back then, everything was essentially career-oriented. CEO, well-paid if not rich, recognized as a major leader in the company. Now, I'm 55, and my career goal? Not to be fired. Or to put it more positively, to keep my job. I want to go to work, do my job 40 hours a week, and go home. If I was given the opportunity to do something more fulfilling, now that the boys are older, I'd change those goals again. Part of the reason I started this blog was because I've gotten a renewed interest in doing something where I could be creative. But, for right now, my goals are ALL family related. I want the kids to get their education. I want Monica to be happy in her job and at home. I want to make some small, meaningful contribution in other people's lives. You know, those kinds of things.
So anyway, look to this spot for my observations on my day, basically. As the title says, whatever comes to mind may end up here. Facebook and Twitter seem better suited for the quick, down and dirty "Hey it's raining" sort of stuff. I like to think I'm a little deeper than that!
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