All The Time in the World

Ta Daaaaaa! I am officially RETIRED.

Yesterday I cleared out my desk, said my farewells, and walked out of a grim, gray cube farm into a glorious early spring day. I shed no tears. I did not look back. And now that it's a done deal, all I can think about it is, What the hell took me so long?

I can't remember ever feeling so light, so happy, so free. So ... what to do first?

Well, I couldn't sleep, so I got up around 5:30 AM, had coffee, and browsed the newspaper. Then I WENT BACK TO BED. Until 9. And I can do that every morning now. Any time I feel like it. Yowza.

It's Shadow Shot Sunday meme day, and the sun is shining, so photography was in order. I bought a neat bottle-turned-turned-into-a-candle holder at a gift shop a week ago, and I've been looking forward to seeing what I can do with it with my new 50mm lens (which I am loving). The results so far are over at Maraca. And if I want to, I can spend the whole day playing with it. Again, Yowza.

Now about that bottle. It looks like it is covered in frost crystals. I adore frost crystals. And I have never seen anything like this outside of the dead of winter:



The shop owner didn't know how this effect had been done, either. So, of course, I fired up Google and went searching. It took a while to find the secret, but it turns out all you need is a can of a craft product called Crystal Frost, available at craft stores and online. You just spray it on glass and stand back while the magic happens. Come Christmas, I will be frosting the daylights out of this place.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is Easter and I have goodies to bake and shop for. Because I am not going to work today. Or tomorrow. Or ever. Yowza!

Have I Lost My Mind?

"Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace." ~ Randy Armstrong





Well, this is it. After next week, I am officially retired.

I am trying so hard to focus on the good GREAT things ahead. But ... I just can't stop second guessing my decision. Thousands of people my age would love to have a decent-paying job with benefits. And I'm pretty sure that I'll never find another one, if I ever want or need to. Which is, really, the scary part - knowing there is no going back.

I've experienced quite an assortment of reactions from coworkers, from happiness at my good fortune, to resentment that I'm retiring "so early". But to a person, they are jealous.

And that's the most telling thing, isn't it. Nobody wants to be there. And everyone wishes they were me. So why can't I just grin and enjoy it?

The Road Less Traveled

A snow storm on Wednesday settled a heavy white frosting on every twig and bough, transforming our common country road into a highway from Narnia.

Ours are the last roads to be plowed, being well outside the city. It makes from some rough going, but we can usually make it to wherever we need to go. It beats traffic.