The Official Activities List--So Far December 11, 2012

The Official Activities List--So Far

 

December 11, 2012

 

     Thank you to everyone who has read some or all of my posts since I began this blog in early November.

 

     I just viewed each post, around 30, and now you can see the activities I believe may keep my attention after I officially retire next year.

 

     I am adding a Number 15:  writing more thank you notes to people who make my life happier and more enjoyable by the little things they do.

 

 

Official List of Retirement Activities December 11, 2012

1. Treasure hunting with a metal detector

2. Bowling

3. Bus trip with others to visit Mt. Dora, Florida

4. Take ballet classes

5. Joining in activities at my local Senior Citizens Center

6. Getting a job, part-time--Cancelled

6a. Helping the homeless, in a small way

7. Reopening my business, "Set The Table--Vintage Tableware and Linens," on eBay

8. Meet and greet the dolphins at Sea World--Cancelled

9. Bike riding in the greenway/park, having a picnic--tried it and it was wonderful!

10. Bagging and redistributing 40 bags of clutter in my home. (Tried it; too depressing)

11. Having laughter-filled meals with friends or family

11a. Go somewhere on a train

12. Visit a kennel where greyhounds are born and raised.

13. Go fishing in a river at the greenway/park

14. Accept all invitations for social events

15. Send more written thank you notes

     There you have it:  the list.

     May I be perfectly clear in saying this is not a bucket list!

     If I keep this up, let me do the math, I will have approximately 150+ additional possible retirement activities in the next 10 months. 

     Now it's time to go do some laundry before I go to work. 

Click here to get to my pinterest site. That's where I spend way too much time now.

 

 

To My Reader In Germany

 

December 9, 2012

 

     Dear Reader in Germany,

 

     Thank you for reading my post as soon as I publish it.  It makes me feel great every time I see that you have taken the time to read what I have written.

 

     Please leave a comment so I know where you are in Germany.  Merry Christmas!

 

     From Mimi Hylton

     Orlando, Florida



Sweet 16 Ceremony and Cookie Exchange

 

December 9, 2012

 

 

     Purchased my rod, reel, and tackle to go fishing on Saturday, but never got to the park.  There were too many other events going on this weekend.  I hope this is what retirement will be like.

 

     First, look at the picture above.  I was invited to a good friend's daughter's Sweet 16 celebration.  I'm not calling it a party, because it was more ceremonial than a party.   And the photo came from pinterest, but the tables were just this elaborately decorated.

 

     The room was set up and decorated as elaborately as a formal wedding.  Table linens, linen chair covers, all tied with beautiful red fabric bows.  The centerpieces were four-foot high clear glass vases topped with bouquets of flowers.

 

     Adrienne, the honoree, wore a formal golden gown that could have come from Saks Fifth Avenue.  There was a shoe-changing ceremony.  The father kneels before the seated honoree and changes her flat beautiful shoes to sophisticated fashion heels.  Then the father and daughter shared a dance to "Butterfly Kisses."  We were crying tears of joy for the lovely young girl who was now officially a lovely young woman.  Just like a Bar Mitzvah, the passage into adulthood.

 

     I left after 3 hours but the party went on well toward the stroke of midnight, with dancing and partying for all the family and friends.  How moving and touching to see such love.

 



 

     Today I baked 6 dozen cookies for my neighbor's Christmas cookie exchange party.  It was another lovely, but casually friendly event to remember.  Actually, this is not a photo from the cookie exchange, but those chocolate cookies look exactly like what I baked.  The table was covered in platters and bowls of cookies!

 

     There was even a table for the children to decorate sugar cookies with every icing and sprinkle imaginable.  After stuffing ourselves with the cookies everyone brought, we were able to take home containers of all the cookies people baked with love.  Thank you Breana and Dustin. 

 

     I really don't think that two such moving and love-filled events could replace fishing.  But I'm adding as Number 13, or is it 14, on my list to continue to accept all invitations for friendly get togethers when I retire.  If you don't have nearby relatives, friends are just as good.  Thank you friends, for inviting me to share your fun and friendship.

 

     Tomorrow, back to work.  But I will have such lovely memories of this weekend because of good friends. 

 

     Now, about that fishing, it turns out that I'm not the only one taking up fishing, if only for a few times.  I learned that by being at the cookie exchange this afternoon. 

 

     Click here for ideas for a Christmas cookie exchange party on pinterest.com

 

    

 

     

I'm Going Fishing--For Free!

December 8, 2012

 

 

 

     A few days ago I wrote about seeing someone sitting on the bank of the Little Econ River, just casually casting his fishing line into the water.  I had added "go fishing" to my list of activities for retirement.

 

      I researched fishing this morning, and lo and behold, I can fish for free, without a fishing license!  Here is the rule/law that affects me.  Yay for being old!!

What does a senior license certificate cover and where do I get it?

Florida residents age 65 or older only need a Florida Driver License or Identification Card to prove residency and age. They are not required to purchase the following recreational licenses and permits:

• Saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing and hunting licenses
• Snook, lobster, deer, management area, muzzleloading, turkey, archery, crossbow, *Florida waterfowl, and migratory bird permits.

You can get a complimentary senior card at the county tax collectors office, but it is not necessary. You can find links to the county tax collector offices at $taxcollectors.
While a license is not required for resident seniors, they should keep proof of age and residency in their possession while participating in these activities.


     That means that I can rush to my nearest Target or (where would I go around here?) somewhere nearby to purchase $50 worth of equipment to fish for free.  Seems logical. 

     Remember, this Wednesday, the Golden Ticket Day, I get my first  SS check.  That means I will have some "recreational funds" to try out my retirement activity. 

     I was sitting at a picnic bench on the bank of the river when I saw the man fishing.  I didn't see any DisneyWorld safety rails or fences to keep alligators from just strolling up the bank to eat me, however.  Oh, heck.  I didn't see an alligator strolling up the bank to eat the fishing guy either.



      Definitely going shopping for a fishing rod, a big knife to kill any gators, snakes or serial killers, a comfortable camping chair to relax in, a pair of work gloves for when I have to hold the fish to remove the hook before I throw it back in the river, and a picnic lunch from Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Oh yes.  I'll need bait.  What do freshwater fish like to bite off of a hook?  Hope it's not worms. 



     If they only want worms, then I'm going bowling instead. 

Follow me on pinterest while I'm "gone fishing" this morning. Just click this link to get there.

Spammers List As Of Now

 

December 7, 2012

 

     Beware when you see these websites as entering URLs:

 

    

http://adsensewatchdog.com	9
http://www.vampirestat.com/	6
http://www.probtheme.com/	3
http://www.villainstat.com	3
http://zombiestat.com	3
http://tefajoho.bestnoise.com/?info/idleatlast.blogspot.com	2
http://www.uglystat.com	2
http://folupora.elwagba.com/?           info/idleatlast.blogspot.com      These sites have run up the number of post views all within one hour.  Contact Google to see how this can be stopped immediately.  Since I wrote my last post about this, things have slowed down a bit.      That's about all I can do for everyone.  I know it's happening to a lot of other bloggers and has been going on for quite awhile.       I'll wait a day or two before I post again unless I win the lottery or something.       Dear readers, leave a comment if you are not one of these spammers.   I will be submitting this list to the authorities.       Have a great evening!

 

Who Are These Post Readers?

 

December 7, 2012

 

 

      This blog was started in early November to record the year leading up to my retirement next year.  This week the oddest audience has shown up on my statistics of who is reading my posts.  My newest sources of readers are Iran, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Ukraine, and Germany.

 

       Doesn't that seem odd?  I did a little Google search of some of their web pages and it seems that lots of people are getting these same lurkers running up their statistics of who is entering their blogs.

     Here they are:
    

adsensewatchdog.com	2
tefajoho.bestnoise.com	2
www.vampirestat.com	2
folupora.elwagba.com	1
www.probtheme.com	1
www.uglystat.com

 

     So, since I can't eliminate them, I will just hope that they are enjoying my writing, and that they will leave comments each time I post something new.   I will also be contacting the CIA and the FBI tomorrow morning, to be sure I am not attracting spies.

 

     At least looking at these audience names, I have snapped out of my sadness over my dog.

 

     Happy evening to all of my readers from Europe and North Africa!  Join me on pinterest, too!   I would love to have more followers!

 

 

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

Tonight I'm Missing My Dog

Tonight I'm Missing My Dog

 

December 7, 2012

 

      Christmas music is playing softly from the radio, yes radio, the Christmas tree is tall, majestic, and smothered in colored lights.  The tiny Christmas tree on the buffet is lit with miniature lights.  The antique oil lamp is lit and flickering nearby.   The miniature Christmas village is on the fireplace mantle. The outside decorations on the porch are lovely, and I miss my dog, Ashley. 

 

      Ashley, a huge fawn-colored racing greyhound I rescued in 2000, left this world in September.  I am overcome with sadness and I am missing her terribly tonight.  I don't have any thoughts of my future retirement or of the fun I will have next year. 

 

      I wander from room to room in my home and wish I could see her watching me from her plush bed in the living room.  That's all I have to write about tonight.  Good night, precious Ashley.

 

There are lots of greyhound photos on one of my pinterest boards.  It's named Animals-Just Animals.  This is what she looked like:

http://www.goldcoastgreyhoundsorlando.com/available.php

 

Be sure to support the adoption of retired racing greyhounds.

 

www.goldcoastgreyhoundsorlando.com

 

 

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 

 

 

 

 

 



Eleven Months From Today Until Retirement

The Official Retirement List Coming Soon

 

 

December 6, 2012

 

 

     Reading the titles of all of my posts made me realize I have eliminated lots of activities, rather than adding them.

 

     So, tonight, when I am settled at my desk with a cup of tea, a bowl of fried rice from Panda Express, and a bottle of water, I will publish the official list, based on all of my posts.

 

www.pandaexpress.com

 

     Please come back tonight to see the list and tell me how I'm doing.  I need some help here.

 

     Yes, I'll be heading back this weekend to Winn Dixie to shop for food for the Coalition of the Homeless Orlando, for their food pantry.

 

www.winndixie.com

 

www.coalitionforthehomeless.com

 

     Thanks!  And if you are already on pinterest.com, you can now click on this blog from the top of my pinterest page.  I've been verified!

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 

 

 

 



Dolphin Swimming Off My List

December 5, 2012

 

 

      Here in Orlando we have Sea World, and I wrote on November 15 that I forgot I should add swimming with the dolphins  to my list.  Last week a little girl was just petting a dolphin, not swimming with it, and it bit her arm.  No worries:  she is fine.



 

      That showed me that perhaps actually being in the water with these beautiful, yet potentially risky, sea creatures might not make my retirement last too long. 

 

      Here's another editorial take on the animal interaction promoted at Sea World, so you can see why this bite happened possibly.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-scott-maxwell-seaworld-dolphin-bites-girl-12051-20121204,0,5798557.column

 

       So, as of now, there will be no swimming with the dolphins to dream of when I retire.    However, check out the Sea World website to see all the interactions you can have with their sea life,

 

www.seaworld.com

 

 

       While driving home through that beautiful park I wrote about, I stopped, parked, and sat on a picnic bench to watch the river and the wildlife.  I looked to my right at a large crane.  But I also saw a man fishing there.  Add Number 12 to my list:  I'm going fishing when I retire.  I used to be very good at catching swimming things and throwing them back in the water.  

 

      On my last post I added taking a train ride to see where greyhound puppies are born and raised.  However, after doing lots of research (googling), I found that we raise precious greyhound puppies right here in Orlando.  So I won't have to take a train to see them.

 

      But wait, there is more:  I still want to take that train ride to somewhere that only takes a few hours.  I'm going to have to google/research more tonight.

 

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 

      

Where Do Greyhound Puppies Come From?

December 4, 2012

 

     I started writing these posts to plan for retirement activities for my future retirement.  All of a sudden, I am a food critic.  Starting over today.

 

     Number 11 on my list of future retirement activities is to go somewhere on a train where I can pretend to be Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot.  I'll observe everyone and everything. 

 

     That should keep me occupied for a few hours, if I don't get distracted by the scenery passing by the window.

 

     But wait, there's more.  Next Wednesday is the day I actually will receive that golden ticket check in my mailbox, rewarding me for a lifetime of labor.

 

     What will I do with all of that lovely money?  I am going to add Number 12 activity to my list:  traveling to see where greyhounds are actually born and raised.  Someone told me this and I really listened:  you never see any baby greyhounds, do you? 

 

 



 

 

 

     Homework tonight:  research greyhound kennels, locate one within a few hours' train ride, then buy a ticket to go there.  Where DO greyhound puppies come from? 

 

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

    

 

     

Sushi--Not On My Activities List Ever

December 1, 2012

 

      First of all, my little goal of having a meal with a friend or with friends each week is going well.  However, Friday evening I met a good friend at a sushi restaurant.  She loves sushi.

 

 

     Personally, I would not choose such a restaurant willingly, but I was invited, and I like my friend, so...   It was so foreign, none of the items on the menu made any sense to me.  I don't eat raw food or food wrapped in brown plastic, and I don't like to think of how long the food preparer had handled the food just to get it to get it into those origami sausage shapes.

 

     My friend and I had a rather in-depth discussion of why I was averse to new foods.  The result was she found the one thing on the menu I might actually eat...tempura vegetable appetizer.

 

     There was a counter and seats where people were engrossed in watching grotesque things being prepared. It was supposed to be entertaining, the waiter explained patiently. 

 

 

       We became very involved in our conversation and our individual career trials and tribulations.  It was lovely.  When  the food appeared I found it hard to even look at her huge rectangular plate of make-believe food.  I know she could see it all over my face.   I'm never shy about blurting out my opinions.   May I just say that I had to request a fork, as if that was asking for a trained seal to be brought to the table.   Don't misunderstand; the waiter was excellent.  They just don't put forks on the table. 

 

     My plate was the size of a bread plate and contained five items, each one a "vegetable," if you can call one long string bean as one of the five items.  There was a slice of a sweet potato, something green, something maybe yellow, and a definite onion ring, and something else.   And I ate all of it. 

 

     Thank goodness the tempura coating was familiar in flavor. But wait, there is more.  By the time I drank 2 full teapots of tea, and we gathered our things to leave, this place was packed with every person in Baldwin park, including children eating this stuff.

 

     Outside, the sidewalk tables were just as packed except the family dogs were all sitting near the tables as well.  I am definitely living in my own little world.   My friend repeatedly asked why I wasn't excited to try new foods.  Let me say that this is never going on my retirement activities list. 

 

     I adore my friend, I adored our conversation, I definitely did not adore my meal.  As soon as I got home, I got ill, enough said.  Who invented this kind of restaurant, and why are people paying these prices for mystery food with mysterious ingredients and names?  It is obviously one of the most popular restaurants in the area. 

 

     If my good friend reads this, I hope she understands me well enough to know that I loved every minute of the meal, except the food.  

 

Note:  I am not criticizing the restaurant in any way. 

 

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 





Giving Up On The Bags

November 29, 2012

 

 

     I'm a quitter.  No more bags.  No more challenge.  Taking this challenge completely made me forget what this blog is about:  finding things that could hold my interest for more than an hour whan I finally retire.

 

     So, rather than punish myself with work I don't want to do anyway, I'm back to researching retirement activities I might actually enjoy.

 

     For today, I'm adding Number 11 to my list:  going to an early breakfast with my son and having a good laugh.  It starts my day in a positive mood, and I don't end up in an old lady crochety state of mind.

 

     Today we went to TooJays, about a mile from home, had a nice healthy meal, laughed a lot, and went our separate ways.  Perfect beginning to a day full of promise.

 

www.toojays.com

 

     In addition, I'm meeting a former co-worker for an early evening dinner Friday.  More laughter and positive energy to anticipate.

 

     My advice to myself:  leave the bags and concentrate on what's really important right now and in the future:  laughter with family and friends.

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 

 



Thirty-seven Bags To Fill--Harder Than It Sounds

November 28, 2012

 

     The first three days of filling a bag a day with clutter, giveaways, and junk seemed painless.  But wait, there's more.

 

      This morning I thought about that fourth bag and it just didn't call to me.  So instead, I scraped all of the papers, receipts, gift cards, and other unmentionable stuff off the kitchen counter and into a bag.  That doesn't mean I want to throw or give the contents away.  That means I will have to sit down tonight and go through each and every piece in that bag and sort, sort, sort. 

 

     I see my future now in retirement:  I will be a bag lady, just sorting, sitting, and sorting.  Possibly I will have hired Merry Maids by that time, so I can be out bike riding instead. 

 

     Great idea:  "Forty Bags in Forty Days," but I think I'm going to need company to keep me motivated.  If you are trying this challenge, invite a friend over for coffee, then get the friend to cheer you on to yet another bag. 

 

     Feng Shui practitioners and other organizers recommend going quickly from room to room, choosing 27 items to get rid of.  Quick!  Don't think about it.  How did they choose the number 27?

I may do it that way tonight. 

 

     It's off to work I go, where I know my classroom doesn't need for me to fill a bag there today.    Have you started filling your fourth bag yet? 

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 

      

     

Forty Bags in Forty Days Challenge

November 25, 2012

 

     I didn't come up with this idea; of course I stumbled upon it on pinterest.com.  I'm posting the link here so it will make sense to everyone.  It's a fabulous way to declutter your nest, feed your trash can, and donate to those who can resell it, like Goodwill or ReStore or the Salvation Army.  Here's the link to the blogger:

 

 

http://www.littlelucylu.com/2011/03/40-bags-in-40-days-challenge.html

 

      I'm adding this to my retirement activities list as one item:  Number 10, but it will involve 40 actual days of action. 

 

     If you want to join the challenge (it's a self-challenge, not a competition), leave a comment and report on your progress.

 

     Writing this blog causes me to feel younger by the day.  Tomorrow, back to reality and my real job, but I have certainly appreciated my 9 days of Thanksgiving vacation.

 

     So let's get going:  go buy a big old box of trash bags and make a list of 40 places in your home that you could clear out, day by day.   I know that checking off each item on the list will be satisfying to all of us each day.  And I still haven't gone bowling.

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 

     

Absolutely Fabulous Thanksgiving November 24, 2012

Absolutely Fabulous Thanksgiving At Last

November 24, 2012

 

     Two days ago you were left wondering if we would ever get to our Thanksgiving dinner.  Both my friend and I decided to go home and take naps to wait on the bird to roast. 

 

     By 5:30 we got the call that all was prepared, and we were expected to arrive right away.  I'm not going to rave on and on about the fabulous decorations, the banquet-sized dining room table, laden with Martha Stewart-worthy decor and dinnerware.

I will include just a small corner of the table here in one photo.  The food had not been set on the table yet.

 

 

 

 

     I will tell you that the center tray, loaded with lit candles, lit the entire dining room.  The dishes full of food and condiments covered every other square inch of this table.  At the other end of the table was yet another huge glass vase full of more Christmas ornaments!  The theme was red and white, with simple red snowflake graphics on the placemats and runner.  The linen napkins were tastefully embossed with a deer, rustic style, and wrapped with silver bells napkin holders.  Totally Southern Living magazine quality. 

 

     The turkey was done to perfection and the few dishes of food we brought were squeezed onto the table somehow.  The chef was our guest's good friend, and outdid the finest restaurant chef.  Our host was impeccable in his catering to our every need. 

 

     All in all (until I get more photos to prove it) this was the most beautiful and delicious Thanksgiving meal I've ever had.  But wait, there's more.

 

     The four of us spent hours at the table having the best time just enjoying funny conversations and appreciating our blessings.  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too. 

 

      As for Black Friday, had to mention that, I used part of the day to remove my fall wreath and replace it with the Christmas wreath.  Then my neighbor and friend supervised me while I made a pinterest-inspired Christmas tree for the front porch.  However, I had to go borrow my neighbor across the street to plug in the extension cord which is at the peak of the roof of my 1950s porch.  It all happened within 30 minutes. 

 

       How did I do that?  With a very well-used tomato cage and a string of Christmas lights wrapped around it.  Of course the cage was upside down and the four wires that would normally go in the ground were wrapped with clear tape to make the pointed top to the tree.  So last night, Christmas officially started to crank up at my house.   It was beautiful to see just the lights shining last night.

 

     Here is the photo from pinterest.com.  It is so beautiful at night because the cage seems to disappear and you only see the lights.

 



 

     So, as the video says, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!"  (I'll try to post more photos tonight, when I edit this.)  Now go bake some sugar cookies. 

 

      www.pinterest.com/mimihylton



Will Have To Wait For Turkey, But Not The Nap

November 22, 2012

 

 

      We were invited to Thanksgiving dinner at noon, but the harried host informed us that the friend had not cooked the turkey yet.  Not a problem for two senior citizens who are just as happy with a cup of coffee and a cheese sandwich.

 

       Plan B took us to look for a suitable place to sit and nibble until the turkey "got cooked."  Boston Market ripped everyone off with only one menu choice of a turkey dinner complete with pie, overpriced, so we left in search of alternative places to wait.  But hold everything, all restaurants closed for the holiday. 

 

      This is why America is great:  Burger King was still churning out "Have it your way" meals.  We used a coupon and got two whoppers and fries for $5.  That satisfied us completely and now both of us have gone our separate ways.  "I'm going to nap," grinned my friend.  "Me too," I giggled.

 

     Ahhh, there is nothing like a great nap after a hearty Thanksgiving meal.  Our host will call us later today when the real feast is prepared.  We are both grateful for our host's invitation, the table decorations and settings were outstandingly beautiful, and we are both grateful for Burger King.

 

     Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  We are blessed.

 

 

www.pinterest.blogspot.com/mimihylton

No Bowling Yet--Too Busy November 21, 2012

No Bowling Yet--Too Busy

November 21, 2012

 

 

     My trip to the bowling alley never happened, but I spent the day in a flurry of activities, nonetheless.  I believe that this is what retirement will actually look like.

 

     My neighbor helped me fill  two shopping carts with canned vegetables and canned fruit.  Winn Dixie donated a $10 gift card toward my purchases.  Thank you, Winn Dixie and its manager.   https://www.winndixie.com/Pages/Home.aspx

 

     Troy, the young man at Winn Dixie, boxed all of the canned goods and loaded my car, then we headed to the Coalition for the Homeless.  There we delivered the food to be added to tomorrow's Thanksgiving meal for the hundreds of people who will be waiting. 

 

      Both my friend and I were tired and happy at the same time.  It was a small part of many donations to those in need here in Orlando. 

 

     Afterwards, I spent the day with my son at an upscale mall, just wandering, and we ended up at IKEA.  He purchased decorations for his table for Thanksgiving.  We were both very grateful that we have homes, family, friends, and security at this holiday season.

 

      I'm hoping that you and  your friends and family share a wonderful meal together tomorrow.  Happy Thanksgiving.

 

     This feels better than bowling.  Maybe bowling can wait.

 

www.idleatlast.blogspot.com

 

     

Plans Changed Since 11/17/12 November 20, 2012

Plans Changed Since 11/17/12



November 20, 2012

 

 

     The plan was to go bowling on Sunday morning.  That was changed by being invited to watch the giant Christmas star being erected in downtown Orlando.  So by 7:15 I traveled to watch the star hanging which turned into an almost 2 hour process.  In any event, the gigantic star now floats majestically, and Christmas has begun, even though Thanksgiving hasn't.

 

      Had a pleasant breakfast with family and friends where I made a complete fool of myself by complaining about anything and everything.  We went to a nice restaurant around the corner from the dangling star.  For some reason, I turned into a rather spoiled child, so that everyone could hear my every complaint. 

 

      Returning home, knowing my next activity was bowling, I spent 3 hours on  pinterest.com instead, after sending an apologetic email to all involved with breakfast.  Obviously, I was contrite.

 

      Soooooo, Sunday afternoon, I felt so guilty, I felt I should do work instead of enjoying myself.  I edged my sidewalk and driveway, swept all the trimmings into piles, and vowed to bag them the next morning.   I really felt guilty about breakfast.

 

     Instead of choosing another fun activity to enjoy during my holidays, I did indeed bag all of the grass trimmings.  Then I looked at the piles of mail and other paper staring at me when I came inside.   I have a slight aversion to mail of any kind.

 

     So my fun activity for Monday was spending over 7 hours going through piles of mail, junk mail, political mail, and receipts.  Someone from the show "Hoarders" should have been filming, because I can't through mail away. 

 

      Lo and behold, I can see the surfaces of my little loveseat, my dining room table, my buffet, and the top of my stove.  And I hauled out a bag of the mess of trash that must have weighed over 30 pounds, if not more.  You really should have seen my assembly line.  But wait, there's more.

 

      In all of that paper left from the clearing, I then had piles of important records to be put in date order and filed.  So Tuesday, today, that is how I have spent my day.  The reward is that my paperwork for my taxes for 2012 are at least in one large manila envelope, and all of my important financial statements are neatly filed.  

 

       Tomorrow, Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I am heading to the bowling alley  at ll:00 for a few games, then I'm driving to our Universal Studios theme park to spend the afternoon in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, enjoying some butterbeer and Harry Potter memories.  My guilt has been cured by hard work.

 

      My job for tonight is going to the grocery store to fill a cart with canned vegetables and canned fruit.  All of this will be taken to the Coalition for the Homeless, which is what the head kitchen manager said they need for the big meal on Thursday.   It's a small step, but it will help.

 

      Blessings on everyone and Happy Thanksgiving.  Planning on enjoying fun activities wore me out! 

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton

 

     To read about the hanging of the giant star, and see photos, and other fabulous Orlando events, go to this pinterest site:

 

www.pinterest.com/thedailycity

 

     

Nine Days of Thanksgiving Holidays To Practice

Nine Days of Thanksgiving Holidays To Try My Retirement Activities

November 17,2012

 

     With my school holidays starting, I am heading out with my beautiful new bike to ride to my heart's content.  But wait, there's more.

 

     When I was forced to take a detour on my way to work a week ago, it sent all traffic through a beautiful greenway/park I didn't know existed.  So for the past week I have taken that detour to and from work.  Immediately upon turning into the park, I become one with nature.

 

     There appears a flowing river,  a wide bike/running/walking/dog walking/stroller-pushing concrete pathway along the entire bank of the river.  Hundreds of migrating birds circle overhead.  Egrets are busying themselves along the river bank across the river.   People are strolling with babies, dogs, walkers, bikers, and I should be there.  Oh, and don't forget the people quietly fishing the river.

 

     Professional size soccer fields, two playgrounds, and one gigantic exercise center are also on the property, safely fenced from pathway traffic and the winding road for car traffic.  Who forgot to tell me about this treasure in Orlando?

 

     So, to add to my retirement activities list, a year ahead of when I'll need it, I'm loading up my bike and heading to that park for some peaceful riding.  I will not have to look for cracks in the road or traffic that might squash me.

 

     Number 9 (or is it 10) on my list is now to head to the park and ride my bike for awhile.  I might even pack a little snack in my bike basket.  Pictures later today.   This practice run will confirm its place on my list.

 

     Have a bountiful Thanksgiving meal, and please help those who need one.

 

 

 

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