“A Plan On Hold“

For the past ten years Scott and I have been working on a plan to retire from our day jobs. After retiring, our plan was to live and travel in our motor home. We had hoped to explore all of America and to find a special place to nest in this wonderful journey called life!
Now that plan is on hold. Well the living, and traveling in the motor home part… for a few years anyway.

With everything that is going on in the financial world over the past few months or years, Scott has decided that it would not be in our best interest for him to take early retirement at this time.
“Scott is our financial adviser.”
We have decided to keep my retirement on track for March 2012.  :) 


The Plan Today.

Scott will work a few more years to help get us  through these times of uncertainty. After all that is what I did in 2008 to help get us thru the 2008 - 2009 crisis.

“Yes We Are A Team”

 Scott and I also feel very lucky that we can still make these kind of choices.
With the cost of renting apartments sky-high, home value at an all time low, Scott staying on at his job for a few more years, and YES I am retiring we decided to buy a townhouse.
With that decision made… it did not take Scott and I long to start looking.
With no real reason to live in the big city of Minneapolis, or eat it’s expenses after I retire, we started looking for a place to live in Mankato. Mankato is a very scenic smaller version of a bigger city. Scott and I lived in Mankato for 20 years before we took an assignment to work in Europe. We have already made many great memories while we lived there. Read: Introducing Mankato Minnesota.

We did find a new townhouse in Mankato that was built in 2009 but it had not sold yet. We really liked the location which is very important to us. It is just a mile or two from everything we need doctors, the mall, restaurants, and the groceries store. It also is close to our family, friends, and is only about 15 minutes from Scott's office. Guess what? “We just did it” other than the waiting game the deal is done.
We will move in officially in April 2012 after we return from my retirement party in Arizona
Hoot! Hoot!

Creekside Court. 
 
Lets take a walk around Creekside..

From front to the back, of the Creekside Court town home.

Will this be our final nesting place?
No.

Will this be the end of traveling in our Motor-home? Absolutely not.
The way we travel might change, but not the travel.

More coming soon on - Making Creekside a home

My Final Steps - June

Seven Steps To The Party!

Trust me - I am not actually counting the days until I retire. That would be to much like getting out of a jail sentence, even though there is days lately that it feels like that I am so anxious to be as the book say… Retired Wild and Free! I know that there is a limit to the number of days in this final year, but I would rather look at the year more in terms of the month-long chunks.

So why am I doing this? Why am I writing of my last year! Partly I'm writing this because writing is one of the things that I possibly might enjoy doing in my next chapter! I'm also thinking that "if it's in the paper, it must be true." If I see it in print, I must mean it. Not that I have any questions as to whether I mean it or not. Rather I have questions as to how I will react on than final day, :) :( or when I find myself somewhere else on the first day after retirement.

I am sure there is a few family members and friends that question, whether I am really ready to retire this time. I know, I know you have heard me saying I was going to retire many time over the last three years!  “Read this e-mail I just received from a friend”

Hi  Margaret,
I hear you are retiring Margaret, I don't believe that until I see it. When is the happy last day?

Yes there was a nagging thought, in the back of my mind, that I should stay here. It is warm, it is dry, and most of all it is safe. Yes I was afraid to leave in the past." Now I am neither afraid to leave or do I have that nagging thought that I should stay here. I know I will miss it, but I will not dwell on that. It is time to move on to my next chapter, the one I have been preparing for over the last three years.  “This time belongs to me”



I will close these June Final Steps with these words!
The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. - Frank Lloyd Wright
 

June 2011

Saturday 4th
What a beautiful spring day we are finally having here in Minnesota!





Scott and I went for a long walk around our favorite lake here in Minneapolis early- morning. Then after lunch in the afternoon we went for a MINI Cooper S road trip.The main reason for the road trip was to enjoy the sunshine and the trees. The trees are such a delightful bright green color when they get their new leaves in spring. I know that color will not last long so  “Yeah let’s party!”

Tuesday 7th      

OMG! We are having a Heat Wave In Minnesota, I love it. We broke all kinds of records today in Edina Minnesota. It was fabulous out. blue sky, sunshine, and warm winds.
Friday10th  Saturday11th Sunday12th
We had a fabulous weekend! We left our day jobs at noon on Friday to head up north to our lake lot. This weekend was special we drove our MINI Cooper S up there for the first time. The MINI had a great time while there, it got to sleep in the garage at night and got a personal bath from it owner. 

“Spoiled MINI”



The early- morning quietness is my most favorite time of the day. Up north on our lake lot, I look
 forward to starting my day with a cup of coffee at our cute little table in our Dutch Star!



It was a beautiful Saturday morning. I had just got out of bed ready to sit down at my little table for breakfast when I saw two eyes looking in my window. I creep a little closer to the window with my
 camera in hand and guess what? It was… a “peeping deer”


After lunch we took our MINI Cooper for a joy ride into the little town of Walker. In the afternoon we took a nap, read our books, and of course we had happy hour by our first bonfire of this year 2011. 


33 Years at the same corporation!
Today 14th June I celebrated my 33 year service anniversary at the same corporation! I  feel very honored to have played my part in what we all believe is a successful company!  I find it a tad strange when someone says to me 33 years? “That is a long time!”  Overall I have been treated well in this company! I feel very honored to be leaving this company with the same mutual respect that I started with… 33 year ago!


Weekend come, and weekend go they sure aren't long enough or so it seems… even when your doing nothing.

Monday 20th 
Yep, it’s Monday once again I am back at work ready to accomplish some more goals that I want to keep accomplishing before my final step! 
Tuesday 21
The first day of summer has finally arrived here in Minnesota! It is also the longest day of the year. Believe me… it sure did feel like the longest day of the year today? With tornado sirens blasting off and on all afternoon and our safety team rushing us in and out of our tornado shelter. When we finally got the all clear from our weather man I got the heck out of there and went home. If I am going have to sit in a tornado shelter, or get blown off the face of the earth, I want to have a glass of wine with me on the way out!

Saturday 25th

Summer is the season of the year we like to kick back, relax and enjoy time at our lakes here in Minnesota. That's just what Scott and I are doing this weekend at our lake lot.


We did add a few more pieces of decor to our landscape this weekend. A hammock stand and a bright
 new umbrella! “Come on sunshine we are so ready for you!”


It took Scott less that five minute to put his new hammock stand together. Scott returned to the hammock in the afternoon with his book for a peaceful afternoon of reading from his I pad II.


Today I am saying a sad good bye to my little Sony Cyber- Shot camera. She has captured many special memories in my life for many years. Sunrises, sunsets, family get together, rivers, lakes, and mountains. She took two trips to my homeland Ireland with me and has been a constant companion in my pocket where ever I have been. Even though I have had other cameras with me.. Cyber-Shot was always the one that was there for a picture that was worth a thousands words to me. Even though she has not died yet she has lost her focus. You're shot will be replaced cyber, but never the memories you give me.

Thanks Cyber-Shot you have treated me well!

“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.