ITS ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Only 3 days till the BIG day!!! Santa is pretty much ready at my house. Shopping is done, gifts are all wrapped, house is decorated and the carols are playing. The kids (and, of course, the grandkids) are coming to my house for din-din on Christmas Day this year. I am doing a 100% Italian dinner.....herb roasted turkey breast, butternut squash soup, dressing and cranberry relish from Corti Bros!(Ouch! Pricey...but it will be worth it!) The rest.....lasagna, Italian meatballs, cheese plate and a million and half appetizers....are all from my kitchen. I'm off to Patti's Solstice party tonite for a short appearance and then, early tomorrow morning, I'm off to the grocery store for all the fresh produce, etc. Then home and I start cooking. A little on Sunday, a little on Xmas Eve and alot on Christmas Day. Hopefully, I have all the cooking spaced out enough so that I can still enjoy it. At first, the kids were planning on spending the night on Christmas, but as it turns out, I lagged regarding a kennel for Princess and nothing is available. This means that Princess will have to sleep in my room (instead of Hailey) and Russell would have to sleep on a sofa. Of course, true to form, Russell has declined the opportunity and Brandi and I are playing it by ear. We think it might be possible to change his mind once he is here. We shall see.....

I went to New Orleans for a week earlier this month and, per usual, had a great time. Larisa, Katie, Monique and Anna also went. It was loads of fun but, at times, a little wierd. Anna and Monique mostly hung out by themselves......due a little to Monique's shortage of funds....which meant that Larisa, Katie and I hung out most of the time....which was very cool. It was Katie's first time ever in NOLA and, need I say, she fell in love with my favorite city. Fact is that she is planning on going back with us in April. I really hope she does....I love Katie....and she really likes to do the touristy stuff which, apparently, doesn't really appeal to Anna. Its tough to get Anna off the bar stool, which I love bar stools, also, but I also love to go see the rest of New Orleans. So I am really keeping my fingers crossed that Katie will go with us.....

I need to clue you in on what is going on with my book. I've kinda gotten away from it since I went back to work (working 3 days a week, most weeks). But I have promised myself that I'm going to get back at it once the holidays are out of the way. I have alot of good ideas regarding where my story is going....so if I want to get it done, first draft, by the time I go to New Orleans for my 6 months...I have to get at it. The plan right now is to go to New Orleans in October or November of next year for my long awaited 6 month stay.

Well, that's about it....Happy Holidays!!! Ho! Ho! Ho! (who ya callin a ho?)
Til next time......

FUN WITH ONLINE DATING?

Yes, I finally did it! I signed up for Yahoo Personals!!! I have been 'active' in that arena for about 2 wks now and I can make the official announcement...........Zippo, Nada, Zero, Yuck. I have been looked at by about 20 men in those 2 wks. I have probably looked at more profiles than that. I have contacted 3 men (yes, I am a big chicken!) who have not written back. But all in all, it is kinda fun. I have actually been contacted by 4 or 5 men, none of whom I would be interested in. Although, I did reply to one, mostly to be polite. And I figured, what could it hurt? I had already read his profile and pretty much knew that it would go nowhere, but like I said, mostly out of politeness.......BIG MISTAKE! This guy, although we never took a step past a few emails back and forth, turned out to be an obvious control freak. From the get-go, he tried to arrange a face-to-face meeting, way before either of us knew anything about one another. And the more I found out, the less I wanted to meet him. Finally, I just stopped replying. Then after 4 or 5 days of our 'relationship' ending, he wrote me a rather testy email, lecturing me on my online capabilities, etc., why was I wasting my time online, I will never find anyone (probably true, but I knew that going in....), etc. Of course, I had to have the last word and shot back a rather testy but intelligent email of my own. The whole thing was actually pretty entertaining. On another front, I sent off a short email to a guy named Mark in Stockton that looked pretty interesting. However, he is 49 so probably looking for someone younger. I don't know if, at the end of the month, I will re-up for another month, right now I'm torn. I mean it has been kinda entertaining in a way, but we are talking $25 a month and I haven't decided if its really worth it. I would like to meet someone to have fun with, travel with, laugh with, etc. But, then again, I laugh alot anyway and am not sure I want to take that HUGE risk again. Yea, I know, my chicken feathers are showing again......until next time........

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS

Heya! I've been retired for almost 2 months now and I must say that the whole thing is pretty easy to get used to. Yet I am in a quandry. I have contacted the BIG boss at my old office and told him that I would like to return to work for 3 days a week. I'm hoping that it will be enough, if I bank all the money I earn, to visit New Orleans for an extended stay of 3-6 months. However, he called a day or two later to let me know that it may be awhile before budget approval is secured. The problem is that if I can't get my butt to New Orleans by the end of January or so, the whole thing might be a mute point. You see, I need to get back here before the ugly hot/humid weather hits and thusly, hurricane season. I want to be back home by the end of May, probably, so I really need to get back to work soon to save enough money. And so I can leave for NOLA by the end of January. If it all doesn't happen soon enough, I'm thinkin I would still go back, but would have to change the New Orleans plan to a nice vacation somewhere else plan. If that turns out to be the case, I guess I could still visit New Orleans for a week or so now and then. I hate that I don't know how it will turn out. But I'm trying to get rid of any and all control issues (not many but some created out of necessity by working 9 to 5 for almost 35 years), and so I'm trying to become entirely "Go With the Flow". Per usual, I'll keep ya posted.

Now a little info on my second quandry. I'm thinking of adding to the armband tattoo I already have (see photo). Since I am so in LOVE with New Orleans, I am playing with the idea of a Fleur de Lis inserted kind of behind my armband tattoo. I want it to be feminine yet show strength, utilizing shading for depth, etc. Or maybe the whole thing should be in shading to rather signify that New Orleans is always in my thoughts. Or if I was really bold and courageous, I could do a Fleur de lis on the other arm and it could be bursting out of my skin. Obviously to signify that NOLA has gotten under my skin.

hmmmm........the photos I've included are examples of Fleur de lis' that I've stolen off the net.
I would combine these into a single tattoo.

If I actually end up doing this, I will do a post to my blog with the final art. I'm not going to do it unless I am TOTALLY excited by the artists design. Saturday we tooled around Midtown while Larisa's brother, Steve, got a cool tattoo at The Royal Peacock Tattoo Parlor. A guy named Jesse, a friend of Noah's, inked Steve's work. I am going to chat with Jesse sometime in the next few days and see what he can come up with. I will definitely keep ya posted.....well.....until next time......

I'M RETIRED!!!! YAY!!!

Well, hey there! Well, its official.......I am retired!!!!! YAY!!! I retired on my birthday which is in the first part of May. I am trying to decide now is I should go back to work as a sorta consultant on July 1st. I work for the government so its a program called Retired Annuitancy. They pay you your retirement benefit plus when they hire you back, they pay you at an hourly rate equal to your last rate of pay. Does that make sense? I've always wanted some extended time in New Orleans and the only way I can do that is to go back to work for awhile to pay for it. But it sure is fun NOT working. So we will see soon enough what my decision is. I need to let them know by June 15th and that date is quickly approaching.

Speaking of New Orleans, I just got back. I went with Anna and stayed for a week. We stayed in a new (to us) hotel called the Place d' Armes. It was just gorgeous. Old for sure, but clean and great staff. It had several gorgeous courtyards with fountains and pool and lush flora,etc. The room provided all the Frenchquarter charm you could ask for. And the price was VERY reasonable. I definitely will stay there again. This trip was mostly partying and eating. Didn't really do or see any of the extra NOLA stuff. I actually stayed up and out til about 1 or later (2:30 am once!) every night. Guess that proves I can still hang, huh? New Orleans is coming along nicely, albeit slowly. The Quarter and other touristy areas look better and better all the time. The rest of the city still has a long way to go, though. The next big thing for me will be when the St. Charles streetcar is up and running. I'm told that will happen in early 2008. Hopefully, I will be there to see it happen?

Back to my retirement......I have recently found out that I will not get my first check until sometime hopefully later this week. Nice of them to tell me that ahead of time, huh? So I am watching my pennies at the moment.....I paid my mortgage on the first, but very little $ left over so hopefully that check will arrive very soon. I am kinda keeping a low profile, hangin around the house, gardening, cleaning, watching movies......just trying not to spend money. It still beats working, tho!!! HA!!!! Until next time.......

1 WEEK AND 2 DAYS!!!!!

Yep, you read that right! Only 1 week and 2 days left til I retire!! YIPPEEEE!!! It all actually seems very frickin weird. I am so excited but it really seems very surreal. I only mean that I have worked for over 34 years, gradually working to get to this point of my career (the end!), tucking money away, working and waiting, paying the bills, and all the time wondering what it would be like if I ever am lucky enough to retire. And, what do ya know, that time has arrived! I keep thinking I am going to get hit by a Mack truck before next Thursday...just kidding....had my fingers crossed.....HA! Yes, that day in May will be a great day in my life.......my birthday, my retirement day, my last day of work, and the day of my luncheon!! So no matter what happens that will be an outstanding day for me. Then the following Saturday is my 5th or 6th annual Summer Gala BBQ and Trivia contest. THAT day also happens to be Cinco de Mayo, a day of major partying in California. So I will be making Jerk Chicken (I know...its not exactly Mexican food, but it IS spicy!?!??!) and Mardi Gras Dip. Friends are bringing sides and more alcohol and maybe some other goodies. Its always a good time...not a huge crowd, ever, but a fun day none-the-less. After that its a week of total relaxation....then a little hitch in the pleasure of retirement. On Monday, May 14th, I'm having a root canal....OUCH! Trying not to think about THAT too much. The next big thing comes along on May 22......going to, you guessed it, New Orleans!!! It will be so great to get back to NOLA (for a week!) once again. I am still tentatively planning to move there for 6 months in January. However, I am also considering the possibility of using the money that I earn, should I decide to return to work (all fun money, dear!), to travel to places as yet unseen. I will begin to seriously look at my options toward the end of June. I'm thinking that if I decide to go back to work part-time, I should do it around July 1st. Work for 6 months, part-time basis, try to earn around 15 BIG ones, and then put a plan into action. I'll keep ya posted. Until next time.......(just re-read this, I really need to post some pics, huh?)

Forgot to Mention......

I went to New Orleans for two weeks in January....had a blast (15th trip, I think!). Going back for a week over Memorial Day weekend......gonna be HOT but can't wait!!! Also still planning on 6 months in NOLA next January (I hope, I hope!).

:>)

JUST 1 1/2 MONTHS TO GO!!!!

Yes, retirement is only one and a half months away. Someone told me that once I actually chose a date, the time would fly. But that is so far from the truth...at least for me. Every morning I wake up and have to literally talk myself into going to work. I often don't. Always some lame excuse...today it was 'allergies'. But the plain and simple truth of it is that I just can hardly wait until May 3rd when forever after, every hour of every day will finally be my own. May 3rd, in itself, will be a great day. Firstly, it is my birthday, always a fun day. But even more importantly, it is my retirement day, my independence day, my day of freedom. My office is planning a great luncheon at the Firehouse in Old Sacramento in my honor. Russell and family will be there, as well as all my friends (well, at least all my work friends) and co-workers. I have bought a cobalt sexy blue dress, a bit on the short side and a pair of pink patent leather heels to go with. Since the blue dress has long sleeves, I will be also looking for a sleeveless dress, hopefully as sexy, just in case one of Sacramento's relentless 100+ days decides to make an appearance. When I say sexy, I'm not implying 'ho' sexy but, perhaps, borderline "Whoa!"
After the luncheon, friends will be meeting me at The Back Door, across the alley from The Firehouse for a brewsky or two and then on to The Raven. Awww, The Raven. Where I am most comfortable. (I will deal with The Raven in a separate blog someday, I promise.) Now some thoughts on retirement....I am fast coming to the conclusion that there are those people out there that seem to have a wee little problem with me retiring at 55. I don't know if they are jealous or what, but they always find a need to mention that I will be bored silly. Or that I will die of some strange malady within 6 months of retirement.....and many tell stories of people they know that have done just that. Well, I am saying right now, in fact promising right now that neither will be the case. I have so many things I want to do and new things to learn and new roads to take, that even if I get bored now and then, it will not last for long. Besides, I get bored right now quite often at work! And I don't mind being bored for a day or two. I'm good at bored......for only brief moments, I promise. I have always thought that if someone gets bored when they retire, its their own damn fault.....there are so many things to do. As far as dying within 6 months, thats just plain stupid. I realize that it does happen but I think this occurs when a person's life was their work. These are the people that live to work.....and I have always worked to live. I just can not wait to retire.....I am so excited about it....to live life without a schedule, to be spontaneous, to shop during times when most others don't, to sleep in whenever I want, to stay up late whenever I want, to do anything whenever I want. To take life slow and not rush through anything will be absolutely wonderful. I'm thinking that the next time I post a new blog.....I will be a retiree!!!!