Showing posts with label Coalition for the Homeless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coalition for the Homeless. Show all posts

Thursday, December 6, 2012

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.
 
 
     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.
 
 
 
     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!
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

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.
 
 
     

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

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