“A Long Long Time”

5 decades 50 years, now that's “A Long Long Time.”

This is a big one. Where do I start? After 50 + years in the working world even though I have had many other reasons to get up in the morning, going to my job seemed to be the big one.

“I just did it week, after week, year, after year,decade, after decade.”
Now I have had many jobs since I entered the workforce at the age of fourteen.This one I am getting ready to retire from is the one I have been in the longest. 33 years!

What have I liked most about my job?

I would say:

“The people that I have worked with over the years, and my pay check.”
If I was to post all the Thank You Notes, Birthday Cards, and You Made My Day Cards I have gotten over the years they would fill a library. 2011- spring 2012 will be my last year in this long long chapter of my life. With a tear in my eye: I will move on to start the next page in this incredible book called LIFE!



Scott and I originally planned that I would retire in 2009, until the 2008-2009 market crash and recession rocked our perfect world. We took some loses in our portfolio along with millions of Americans. I put my retirement on hold to help get us back on track financial… I also felt very lucky that I was able to make that choice.

No regrets here. I got to spend another few years with my great coworkers. I enjoyed some more time with my car pooling friend Sonja, and I am emotionally and financial more ready for the big day than I was in 2008.

I have prepared gradually for retirement, I fully understand the fears and anxiety of this incredible trip I have had them all!

I have been getting my feet wet so to speak over the last three years and I have all my homework done! I have read all the experts advice, even though I did not learn much from any of them. There was a few helpful hints though and this was one of them:

Is the time right?
I have worked hard all my life, I met every challenge life has thrown at me in the work place. It’s time for me to stop working and start living my own way. These years belong to me that's how I truly feel!

Yes.. the time is right! 
As I prepare for these final steps into retirement: I am inviting you to travel along with me to the finish line and help me celebrate in this final chapter of “A Long Long Time.”

My Final Lap!

My Final Lap in “A Long Long Time”
I have started my last lap with that sense of relief that when it's over,it's over. But I also start it with the sense that this must be a lap that reflects the hard work, drive, ownership and passion that got me to this point.
March is the Month that I sit down with my boss and she goes over my performance review with me every year! This year and many years in the past, my boss has given me a very good score for accomplishing all my goals. She also has given me a small pay hike for a job well done!

March is also the month every year that I spend time planning my goals for the year ahead. If I didn't get to them all that year, I'd make plans for the next year. Now, that luxury is gone.They all must be done this year!
One of my goals I have been working on for a few years now is to leave everything that has been assigned to me over the years that I have worked for this company a little better and easier for my co workers than when they were assigned to me 33 years ago.Today and many days over the next year I will be spending some extra time on those goal.
Now you might be thinking that I have a big title after my name or a big paycheck to go with it. To the contrary I am a laborer. When I say laborer I mean I punch a clock. I coordinate the work flow and help my coworkers with what ever they need help with. I am in charge of the filing system, office supplies all of our printers and copiers, and just about anything anybody would need help with in the office. I think my big title is called Support level 3!
Sometimes it's hard to imagine how this coming year will go.The planning and preparation are nearly as good as the doing. My energy from day to day has gotten stronger knowing that a new beginning is  happening right in front of my eyes. I love that feeling of joy I get, when a coworker says something like what will we do without you, or you make me smile. One of my favorite sayings was… one day I was helping a coworker with a project, before we finished she looked up at me and said, you make me so happy!  Ahhh! The joy of making someone happy, in the life of a 9 to 5 shift.










March 11-11
Again today we have been reminded of the power of nature, looking at those pictures coming out of Japan, they were simply amazing. It did not seem right to be watching such horror even frightening at times, knowing that peoples life’s were being taken as we watched.
The horror in Japan has reminded me once again of the fragile nature of our existence on this planet. While my heart, and soul, was in Japan my mind travelled back in time to my home land and my family in Ireland and memories of my last visit with them in November 2010.
Read: “What if there isn't Anymore”
March 17th
With the tragedy in Japan getting worse day after day I feel guilty about getting excited or having fun  while so many people are suffering. But it’s St Patrick's day and I work with  lots of” We wish we were Irish people” all dress up in green ready to have fun with their only real Irish Lass for the day. Lucky we were busy at work  so we did not get into any trouble. I did turn down a happy hour that was planned after work, in favor of a glass of wine at home with Scott.
Read:  “Drowning the shamrock”
Monday thru Friday
Last fall my health care provider came into work for a health screening test on all the employee that work in our company. It was free so I though why not have it. To my surprise I got the bad news that I have  high cholesterol! My doctor suggested I eat healthier, exercise more, and he put me on that little white pill for three months. I also made it one of my new years goals!
Read:  Goals – by Irish
Tuesday 22th
Well today was my big day I took the day off work to see my doctor and have a complete physical! Even though I did not work as hard as I wish I had on my diet and exercise… I was pretty sure that what I had worked on.. would pay off and it did. My doctor was very happy with me I had lost 7 pounds and got my cholesterol closer to normal. I know my goal was 10 pounds by April first but its a good start and I am enjoying a healthier way of eating! hooray!!!

This was one of my publicly stated goals for the new year,  knowing that you are keeping and eye on me and holding me responsible keeps me on my scale!

 
March 26th
March has been the month for many year now that Scott and I come out of hibernation after a long cold winter in Minnesota. We scurry off to sunny Arizona to visit family, do some hiking, and enjoy some sunshine at a beautiful pool. Scott’s mother and father own a little piece of heaven in an retirement park there, called Sunflower Resort in Surprise Arizona. Thanks Eine and Neil for sharing your little home with us!
For many years on these vacation while sitting by this pool! I have day dreamed about retiring and often took a little journey in my mind to the day when I could spend a month here and not just a week.

Last year 2010 I took two week vacation to test drive my retirement dream. I even bought a retirement  wardrobe from the clothing line of “Life is Good”  how cool is that..  I even started wearing them while I was on vacation. It all felt great! I have a lot more dreams than this one for my retirement. But this is my  training spot for “My final lap”. Ahhh the dream of retiring!

Saturday 26th
After a long hard cold winter here in Minnesota, Scott and I are ready for our Arizona vacation to visit family and enjoy some sunshine!
Arizona here we come!
March 27 thru April 1
We have enjoyed time with my sister and her husband, and Scott mother and father!

Now we are soaking in lots of rest, and relaxation, in sunny Arizona on this last rushed vacation from work here before I retire. Yes, being here has made the dream of retirement bigger than ever!
Since there is a great little library here in Sunflower Resort that has lots of books on retirement and this is my training spot. You guessed it, I have been reading lots of advice on what the experts have to say. One of the questions most asked from the experts is “How do I know when it is time to retire”? the answer usually is; They do not know when the time is right for you, but they can give you some indicators.
These are very important questions? When you can answer them you may be ready to retire!
Out of seven indicators, I picked three that best suited me!
#1  When do you want to do it?
After many years of careful planning! I have finally arrived at the time I want to do it? Spring 2012.
#2 “What do you want to do with the rest of your life?   This is what the retirement experts have to say about that. 
Your retirement will be like a blank canvas. You'll buy all the paints and brushes but will have no idea what it will look like until you start.  Great!!  I thought all I had to do is make a bucket list, but now I have to learn to paint!
 
#3  You are excited about making a major change in your life (where you live, how you spend your time) Change is life. A life without change is in a rut. Change can be stimulating, exciting, terrifying, and necessary. Sometimes you just have to shake it up and that thought gets your blood racing.
April 4th
Over the past 33 years Scott and I have made many major changes in our life some were good some were bad but they all were exciting. Today was one of those day when we made a major change in our plans that got my blood racing!
Read:  “Mini Cooper Road Trip”
Wait here Scott: The Mini Cooper road trip was on my bucket list after I retired next year, not this year. Ok Ok I know, I have already been wearing my retirement wardrobe that I bought last year!!
The only thing we can say is,  If it just feels right.... do it. Isn't that what life is all about.... We are following our dreams we only hope we are smart enough to know where our dreams are taking us.
Conversation  was our number one source of entertainment on our road trip from Arizona to Minnesota. We never ran out of things to talk about or plan. We spent many hours talking about my retirement, our dreams together, we made a bucket list, and a road map for the next two years. And of course there will be many more MINI Cooper S Convertible road trips!!

Now dreams are one thing and reality is another. Unless life has other plans for me: My plan is to make this retirement dream a reality next year.  Hooray!!
Tuesday 12th April
I feel very relaxed and spoiled after a two week vacation: the hardest part has usually been returning to work. This time it was different even though my desk was full of papers that had accumulated over the two weeks I was out waiting for me to sort them all out and file them: I did not feel like I had to get everything done my first day back like I usually did.
I took frequent breaks through out the day to chat with co workers that were interested in the highlights of my trip! 
When some one said I missed you or glad you are back I took extra time to thank them or to let them know I appreciated and missed them also!
The hardest part of a two weeks vacation for me over the years has been all the preparation I have had to do at work to get ready to leave. Making sure anything that needed to get done immediately gets done and being able to delegate out my work so it all get done while I am gone!
My plan is that this would be my last two weeks of vacation before I retire: I will be taking many long weekends and a few mini vacation in My Final Lap of a long long time! Just knowing that has made this vacation, and return to work after vacation, a very relaxing enjoyable experience!
April 16th –17th
I am sure you have heard the saying many times, I need a vacation from my vacation. That's how I am feeling this weekend. So much work goes into the planning of a vacation, I am ready to just sit back and do nothing for a weekend!
April 18th - 23rd
My boss was out of the office most of the week. She asked me to take on extra assignments for her which I was more than happy to do. I feel good when my boss trusts me to fill in for her when she is out. Having my boss trust me has always been very important to me… and now that trust is more important than ever in my Final Lap.   
Good Friday
Ahhh! the weekend is here. I left work a little early today I had already worked over 40 hours this week and it was a  beautifully rainy spring  day! Most people that I have worked with over the years would rather stay at work on a rainy day. “Not Me” I love a rainy day! Rainy days are just nice and relaxing you can just shut off the world and have some downtime. Three things I love to do on a rainy day is… #1 go for a walk in the rain, #2 read a good mystery,#3  take a nap, today it was a nice long nap!  A new green raincoat is on my list of stuff to buy for all those walks in the rain I hope to take after retirement! 

Easter Sunday
Scott and I took our MINI Cooper out for a mini road trip to St James Minnesota to visit our family on Easter Sunday. As always we had a great time just not long enough. If this was next year and I was retired we could have stayed a little longer, even overnight but for now a few hours will have to do.
Week 25th-28th
This week  was “Bring your child to work week” Even though I have enjoyed seeing my coworkers children each year it was also a day that was hard to get my work done.This year I was different I was  more relaxed. I also took time out from getting my work done, to enjoy the children and their special day!
Friday 29th
Today was a great day! I started out my day getting up at at 4 o'clock in the morning to watch the Royal wedding of Will and Kate. While I was having a cup of tea and enjoying how dashing Harry looked! I looked out the window to see these men at work. All this activity was going on at 4o'clock in the morning.

Then my own prince of 33 years and I went to McDonald for their now famous oatmeal breakfast!
It was also my last day to work for the month of April! Yes I have eight months to go and I can apply for SSA, Hoot! Hoot!
Just over a weeks ago I asked my boss if I could take every other Friday and a few Thursdays off for the  summer months of 2011. Today she got back to me on that request, and she said I could have them off up until July 4th. Then we will relook at the rest of the summer months which I was more than happy with.
Thought For The Month – We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us! – Joseph Campbell

Goals - by Irish - 2011

In the year 2010, I learned lot’s about myself my strengths and my weakness. One thing I learned for sure is that I am not going to keep a New Years resolution for very long, that is one of my weaknesses.

What I learned about my self surprised me. I most always make my goals, one of my strengths.

So this year 2011! I have five goals I want to accomplish.

And the good thing about blogging them is that they are out there on someone’s server waiting for me to accomplish them or embarrass myself. So here goes for 2011!

Health and fitness
This month I got the bad news from my doctor that I have high cholesterol 259 normal is 199-200. My doctor has put me on that little white pill. Even though many time over the past few years I have made a New Years resolution to watch my diet, and exercise more, by January 31 it was out the door. This year it’s different it’s a goal.

Goal # 1 is to lose 10 pounds, get my cholesterol closer to normal, while building a stronger body by April 1.

Old Movies
Since I starting growing up in the sixties, seventies, and still trying to grow up! I get so amazed every time I see an old black and white movie. What they did with so little in those day really fascinates me.
Goal# 2 is to watch at least one old movie a month for the next year 2011.

Dutch Star

In the year 2008 Scott and I bought a 38 foot Dutch Star diesel pusher. Which we plan to live and travel in to see all the beautiful sights we want to see. However with the crash of the stock market and our bad economy our goals to retire are still on hold. However we have enjoyed our Dutch Star when we have been able to take it our for a weekend even though it is a bit expensive to run.

Goal # 3 is to take our Dutch Star out to at least three state parks this summer, close to where we work for a week at a time in July, August, and September!

After Retirement budget

Scott and I have always tried to save a little for a rainy day so to speak. Around seven to 10 years ago we got the retirement bug and we started saving more aggressively with retirement in mind. For the last two years that retirement dream has become a goal. Now it’s time to test that financial goal while we are still working and have a paycheck.

Goal # 4 is to live on the money, that we think we will have, after we retire from our jobs. Let me give you an example of what I am trying to say. If we think we can live on 3000 a month in retirement. We will test living on that amount until 2012. 

Retirement

Growing up in Ireland many years ago we had none of today's modern conveniences or money. With me being the second oldest of five children I had to help carry part of the burden by helping my mother and father feed my younger sisters. So we grew our own food, gathered sticks to heat our home, and carried drinking water for miles. It seemed like I learned to walk and work on the same day. At the tender age of fourteen I joined the 9 to 5 rat race. Now after 50+ years in the working world its time for me! Why have I set this goal so many time and failed. “Wait” this little voice in my head just said “ It’s an ending.” But now I’ve come to think it’s “Just the beginning”!

Goal # 5 is to retire from a job I love! To go out side and play, and be the child I never got to be in spring 2012



Five goals, a few are easy, and a few will be more difficult.
Someone out there hold me accountable.

January 2011 – by Irish

I love the first week of January for two reason: the New Year, and my Birthday fall around the same time. I enjoy taking this time to reflect on my past accomplishments, setting new goals, and to challenge myself to keep pressing forward for a better me! Happy New Year!

We are only one week into the coldest month of the winter in Minnesota.

With the snow up to our butt

I take a breath of winter air and my nose is frozen shut

Yes, the weather here is wonderful you might think I'm a fool

I could never leave Minnesota, cause I am frozen to the stool.

Minnesota - January 2011

If you are an average person working Monday through Friday the nine to five shift, you might already know about FRIDAY ITCH. Friday itch is when you spend the entire work week wishing it was Friday. But then when Friday finally arrives and just one hour before you are getting ready to leave work here comes the snow. First you have to get your car all cleaned off, then you have to drive home our most travelled road in Minneapolis 35W your Friday itch is suddenly a Friday bitch!

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I am trying to see beauty everywhere in this commute home. After an hour or two of looking at the taillights of cars I started to realize that I can no longer fool myself. “This is a drive from hell.” Then we turned the corner into a side street we were almost home, and there it was a rainbow tree with all her beauty standing tall in the beautiful clean white snow. Just when my heart and soul needed a reminder that yes indeed, there is beauty everywhere!

“Now for a glass of Wine”

Saturday 15th

Saturday Morning, not long after I got out of bed I was already looking at my planner to see what was on my to do list for the day. Then I hear that little voice in my head whispering do nothing.

What a good idea I thought! And so it was born, every Saturday for the rest of the winter will be my “Do Nothing Day”

You might be wondering what happens on a Do Nothing Day? It’s a day free from striving, achieving or a to do list. On my “Do Nothing Day” I took a nap, read a book, watched a movie, held my Husbands hand, and played with my computer. What a fun day!

The coldest week of the year so far has just flown by.While it did nothing for my health and fitness goal, it was a great week for me the hibernator. With temperatures from zero to 40 below in Minnesota you can guess what we were doing. Yes we were sliding, back and forth in our rocking chairs.

Everyone has been fussing’ and fussing’ about this cold weather, those very same people will be fussing’ about sweating in the heat in no time. I myself do not mind our Minnesota winters, I stopped short of saying “I love them.” So as not to get my friend Scott in a rant.

The last weekend in January is here: We have been enjoying a little warmer weather in Minnesota this past week with temperatures in the high 20th and 30th. Oh yes: we call that warmer weather here in Minnesota. You will not be seeing us wearing our shorts anytime soon: but it has made it a little easier on my friend Scott the cold weather hater, to get out of bed.

Saturday 29th

If you have been reading my blog so far this month, you know by now that Saturday is my newly found Do Nothing Day! After not sleeping very good during the night I crawled out of bed at 7:30 yes 7:30 that is very late for me. Then I heard that little voice in my head saying its Saturday its your Do Nothing Day! I got that feeling of joy that I have enjoyed on my last do nothing day! But then another voice said we should go to yoga this morning. That other voice was my friend Scott. Knowing he was right I did need the exercise to reach my Health and fitness goal, So I said ok.

I stumbled back into the bedroom to get dressed to face the world that I was not ready to face on a do nothing day. I grabbed my gym bag and off we go out into the world to accomplish a few other errands we had to do before we would go to the gym.

We get to the gym with a little time to spare which I was more that glad to have because I had to change from street clothes into my yoga clothes before class. I went into the locker room to put my yoga pants on and you guessed it no yoga pants in my bag. These are the kind of things that happens if you try to do something on a Do Nothing Day. So what do I do now I thought? but then that little voice in my head came to the rescue. It said you have come a long way baby to get to where you are at this morning so go to yoga in your street clothes!

Ok, now I am laying on my yoga mat on the floor with my street clothes on, with a gym full of yoga people wearing their cute little yoga outfits! I was just hoping the teacher would start class a little early so everyone would be to busy doing yoga to notice me. It never happened for a matter of fact because the teacher never showed up at all. We all had to leave the gym without a yoga class!

I went back in the locker room to get my coat and gym bag. We were almost out of the gym when Scott said to me did you forget your coat? Indeed I did forget my coat, back again into the locker room to get my coat. So the moral to my story is if you have a Do Nothing Day do not allow anybody talk you into doing something, because you will only work twice as hard to do nothing anyway!

Sunday 30th

Unlike Saturday everything went as planned we went to yoga in the morning, and yes my yoga pants were where they were suppose to be in my gym bag. The teacher also showed up to teach class like she was to suppose to. We had homemade pizza and a beer for lunch other that a few pieces of pizza Scott dropped on the floor everything went like it was suppose to. We watched an old movie, washed the jeep, took a nap, and before we knew it Sunday was over.

Monday 31rd

No one looks forward to Monday morning that I know of, especially those of us who works the nine to five shift. So how do we kick the Monday morning blues. I always look for something or somebody to make me smile.

If you remember one of my goals for 2011 was to watch at least one old movie a month!

Movies watched in January were!

True Grit - John Wayne – old Movie.

Great Scout & Cat House Thursday – Lee Marvin – old Movie.

Mama Mia - New Movie

Laugh Eat Pray – Julie Roberts - new Movie.

If you look up in the right hand corner of A New Day I rated my favorite movie of the Month.

Thought For The Month – The happiest people aren’t the ones who have everything, they’re the ones who make the best of everything they have.

December 2010 – by Irish

We weren't ready for the snow that crept in while we were sleeping. It fell silently on the car’s rooftops. What made it a great day for this blanket of snow was, it was Saturday. I did not have to go to work. I have been in hibernation mode since my trip to Ireland and this just was a perfect way to just enjoy the weekend from our cozy little apartment window.

It was not so cozy a few day later when Mr. snowman decided we needed a few more inches of his white stuff. This time we were at work with a 20 mile drive to get home through one of the business roads in Minnesota 35W.

We left work a little early trying to get ahead of what looked like a few little snow flake, but you never get ahead on our most famous road in Minneapolis 35W… so what do you do?

You just go out there and do what you have to do. Be careful of the ice that is the color of the road, go slow which is no problem since you cannot move anyway, try to keep your windshield wiper from frosting up. “Reach out there and clean those wipers off Margaret” WHAT!!. Hours later we are home in our toasty little apartment, watching the weather channel. Lucky for us that we did leave a little early, there is a much worse traffic jam out there now. Yes we are Minnesotan! We just go out there and do what ever we have to do.

Saturday 4th, Sunday the 5th

Another great weekend has come to a close, not much going on here this weekend. That is just the way I like it these days!

It snowed on and off all weekend. We went to yoga Saturday, and Sunday, seems like it’s the only time I get to breath these days.

I also spend a lot of time on my computer making Christmas cards and reading blogs. Scott is also working on a few new hobbies.

Friday 10th

We rushed out of work today at 4oclock. Our Minnesota snowman has been warning us all day that a big storm is on its way. Our first stop was at the grocery store. After fighting the longest lines I have ever seen in a grocery store we got enough food to get us through the weekend. Then it was off to the liquor store to get wine, and beer. No snow storm is complete without a party in Minnesota. Since we were in the same block as our gym we went to yoga. Yea we even made it to Yoga!

Great! we are finally on the way home to our cozy little apartment to enjoy whatever mother - nature has in store for us.

Do you see our apartment building yet honey!

Saturday 11th

Mother nature did as promised! It’s here, a big beautiful snow-storm we are enjoying it all from our cozy little apartment window! If you wish you were here enjoying this storm with us come on over to Minnesota! It’s going to be around for many month and we share our winters here in Minnesota with anyone who is brave enough to embrace them. We will even give you some to take home.

Sunday 12th

It’s over 17.5 inches! of snow here in Edina. Most Minnesotans' except our “Minnesota Viking football team with a deflated Metrodome roof” are returning to life as usual. Our snowmen are out playing in the snow and there is snow everywhere here in Minneapolis this beautiful cold, sunny, Sunday morning.

Now for some other news.

For those of you that have read my stories over the last few years you know that my sister Angela and I have taken two trips back to our homeland together!

We share great memories and have lots of pictures of those trips. With Christmas around the corner… I decided to make Angela a digital photo frame of those memories! What started out to be just a few pictures of our trip together turned out to be a digital picture book.

I have learned so much about sorting pictures in Angela digital photo frame that I will redo my own digital photo frame to sort and display my pictures better.

Friday17th

Just in case you have heard of unexplainable explosion in Edina Minnesota it’s just me. I am so excited!!! I just finished my last full week of work for the year of 2010. Even though I have to work the next two weeks they will be short, we have time off for the holidays. I made it another year!

HOOT HOOT!

Saturday 18th

Scott and I went to yoga this morning after yoga we had a nice cold beer and lunch. We just hung out at the apartment for the rest of the day. No need to go out there to fight the Christmas shoppers when we do not have to. Any gifts I will give this year are along the lines of a “Massage certificate” or some “Life is Good” socks.

What do I want for Christmas?

Actually, there really is very little I want, and nothing I need. Most of my wants are not Things but rather experiences. I really want to do a lot more hiking, and camping. I want to take a road trip in a convertible. Someday I want to take a cruise, a train trip someplace, and I do want to see Alaska. The list goes on and on.

Sunday 19th

Other that the usual get up, get dressed go to yoga, there was not that much excitement to the day. I spend a a lot of time reading retirement blogs on my computer. What did I learned from all of the experts, NOTHING! I am more confused now than I ever was. “But I have a plan”

Monday 20th

Monday is always a hard day after having all weekend to hibernate and play with my computer, but when you have a Monday and another Minnesota blizzard together it can make for some tough going even for a positive thinker.

Another night stuck on 35W

Tuesday 21th

Back in November shortly after my return from my homeland, my health care provider came into the company I work at for a day and did a health screening on all of the employees there.

I just got my results back a week ago with the bad news that I have a high cholesterol level of 258 normal being from 100-199.

Wednesday 22nd

Welcome to the world of prescriptions drugs Margaret. Yes that was the bad news my doctor give me today. With my cholesterol level so high even diet will not bring it down. I should not be complaining because it is the first time in my life I have had to take a little pill for anything. Sooner or later that day comes for all of us for some reason or another. Maybe just maybe I can bring it down, go off the pills, and live happily ever after. “Just Dreaming”

Christmas Eve 2010

We had the day off work today, for a three day Christmas Holiday weekend. That is what I like the most about Christmas these days. We even got another snowy day with beautiful big white flakes, around 4 inches more!

OH,how much fun we had today, when Scott and I went out to play,hey it’s our Minnesota way!

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Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas everyone! From beautiful snow cover Edina Minnesota.

Friday 31th

We had the day off work again today for another long weekend to celebrate the New Years!

I started out the day getting my hair done, after I was all prettied up I had lunch with Scott. After Lunch we went shopping to my favorite store in the whole world REI.

Since my “Life is Good” purse was getting old and worn out (Ha Ha), I had to replace it with a new one. My new purse got welcomed into the family with Scotts usual response “ How many purses do you have?.”

Tonight we have to say good bye to 2010 which was a good year, to welcome in the future!

We will welcome in 2011 with a glass or two of wine and a salmon and vegetables supper, at our cozy little apartment!

Happy New Year Family and Friends!

November 2010 – by Irish

After a very busy month of October, I still feel like I am in a bit of hibernation/quite mode. My travel experience to Europe has been wonderful! I wish I could share more of it with you, but I am just at a loss for words to write! I feel like I need to take some time to try meditation and DE-Clutter my mind.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

October 2010 – by Irish

I am very tired. I have to take a break. With all that is going on this month I will not be able to work on any of my goals for the month of October.

We have made progress on most of our goals for September! Those goals are on hold now, because… I am going home to visit my Irish family!

Saturday 2nd

For the past two weekends we have had plans to go up to our lake lot to mow and just enjoy a nice fall day there. Like I have said before we can make all the plans we want but, at the end of the day it’s what life has in store for us that wins out.

Last weekend mother nature won out with 10 to 15 inches of rain and this weekend life has win out so far. Just as we were putting out stuff in the jeep Scott noticed a low tire, taking a better look we had a bigger problem. Now it’s seven clock in the morning and Scott is at the jeep hospital trying to get his tire fixed. I am blogging, I know, I know, I should be making the bed, washing clothes, or cleaning the apartment. But blogging is life now, and life win’s out!

Scott is back from the Jeep hospital with the jeep fixed. How much money? Let’s hear Scott's story.

After a bad start to our morning, we ended up with a beautiful fall weekend at our lake lot. We got our chores done and enjoyed some beautiful fall colors with a good bottle of wine.

Monday 4th

It’s back to work to pay the Jeep Hospital bill.

Tuesday 5th

Today I got that feeling of excitement again. I talked with my sister on the phone. We made a few plans for our trip home to Ireland. One thing we have decided on we are going to take less luggage. We will try and not have to check any bags which will save us so much time and trouble.

Wednesday 6th

Today my boss has officially signed my time off from work request, for my two week vacation to go on my trip to Ireland. It’s all starting to come together.

Friday 7th

Scott and I got up early. I mean very early like 3:00 in the morning we had a cup of coffee and some apple turnovers for breakfast. We had a big day ahead of us our Dutch Star got recalled again, for some nuts and bolts problem. We also have to take it to get stored this weekend for the winter.

The little deck always looks a bit lonely when it is not serving it’s big master the Dutch Star.

We closed another weekend, and another summer at the lake, with great weather and lots of memories. Scott is ready to share our last two weekend with you! "Closing the lake Adventure”

What a week? Scott was out of town all week, I was very busy with my day job. I did take time to get together with some work friends for supper one night. I have all my appointments made on my to do list. with one week to go before the big trip!

Saturday 16th

I started out the weekend with the first appointment on my to do list, my hair appointment. I do a little color once in a while. I do not have to do much upkeep on myself, as you already know. I am damn near perfect!

Next thing on my list is to visit Scott’s mother and father in St James Minnesota. We went Saturday afternoon and came home Sunday. We had a great visit. This is the last time I will see them for some time. When I return from my trip to Ireland they will be on their way to their little winter home in Arizona. With hugs and safe trip wishes we were on our way.

Sunday 17th

We got home from our visit with Scott’s family around 12:00. I caught up on a few blogs that I like to read. Scott and I went for a walk in the park.We are just having a relaxing night at the apartment, getting ready for a hectic week of fear, excitement, and my to do list.

Monday 18th

Scott’s is working in Mankato today. Margaret went to her day job and marked one more to do thing, off her to do list!

Tuesday 19th

Today I got my little carry on suitcase out. I am not ready to pack it yet just need to keep working on that to do list.

Tuesday 19th

Tonight, which camera to take with was on my to do list. I will not decide tonight which one or two, I will just make sure they are all charged up and that I have an extra disk for whichever camera I take on my trip.

Wednesday 20th

I skipped working on my to do list tonight. I had a glass of wine and enjoyed the evening with Scott at our apartment.

Thursday 21th

Today I called my sister to make some last minute plans to start our exciting trip! My sister and her husband will come here to our apartment in Edina for supper Sunday night around 5 o’clock.

I also had my hair trimmed today. The last thing on my to do list for today was to see my ear doctor. Everything checked out normal for me. What more can I ask for.

Friday 22th

OMG! I did know I would not have that normal Friday feeling before I left, because all day I was going to be trying to get my work flow in order for two weeks while I am gone.

I will not bore you with any more work details or try to explain my job. What I do want to share with you is what a great bunch of co-workers I work with. I was called to what I thought was a meeting only to find out that it was a surprise “you will be missed party.”

The cake had a picture of many of my coworkers waving goodbye on it! Wait!…. I am only going on a two week trip to see my family! I am coming back!

I also was able to get my flue shot today just one more thing off my to do list. With a hard days work behind me I sat down to have a glass of wine, and a quite evening with a special person, my husband my friend Scott!

Saturday 23th

We had a busy morning. What was on the to-do list today? Shopping, Macy’s had a big one day sale, and I did needed some clothes. Something I just hate to do, but I did it. I not only got a few things to go on my trip, I also got enough clothes to take me to retirement day, Wow!! did I say that “retirement day” now that scares me.

Any man who goes shopping with his wife would love Macy’s. According to Scott he found a very comfortable little sitting room with a TV in it. He had a great time watching TV until he had to pay my bill.

We had pizza and a beer for lunch in our cozy little apartment, then it was time to pack.

When Irish eyes are packing!

Sunday 24th

With everything packed and ready to go. The only thing on my to-do list for today was to get my nails done! This is something I only do on special occasions.

With everything on my to-do list done! Scott and I squeezed every minute out of the day to enjoy this last Sunday together for two weeks OUCH!

And finally my sister Angela and her Husband Jeff arrived. We had a drink and some oriental food together at our apartment before we to went to the airport!

Ready to go to the Airport?

And now I am sitting here wondering what the next two weeks have in store for me?

We did it!

I will share just a few of the highlights of my trip with you.

We had some great walks in the beautifully countryside of Donegal Ireland

We enjoyed celebrating my mother 92nd birthday!

We had many cups of tea together.

We enjoyed many of the beautiful thatched cottages in Ireland!

Yes….. all this beauty is just outside our front door of my family home!

A great place to do a little Yoga!

I just have to get my feet in the ocean!

I used to slide down these sand hills growing up as a child. No I pads or computers in those days!

We visited my father grave.

I am thinking… what if there isn't anymore?

As my sister Frances turned the key on the gate to our family home for the last time on this great family reunion, I also turn another page in the book of life!

With a month of planning, a great family reunion, and a visit to my homeland over, high up in the sky on my way home I caught the sunset over Edina!

Welcome home.. I missed you!

Life is Amazing!