Retirement Plan B

1998 Picture it. Nurse looks forward to retirement and makes plans.
Plan A: Develop an eBay business after retirement to sell collectibles, crafts and other items.
Step 1 - Save all packing materials and boxes.
Step 2 - Buy any items that look good for resale at a profit later.
Step 3 - Stock up on all craft and needlework supplies to use after retiring.
Step 4 - Store said items wherever space is available.
Step 5 - Launch said business upon retirement from nursing.
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~fast forward to 2011~ (well not too fast)
Plan B: Scrap plan A since it has been 5 1/2 years since retirement and there is no inclination whatsoever to do business on eBay or do crafts and needlework on that scale.
Step 1 - Spend the next week clearing moldy packing materials out of basement. (wear mask)
Step 2 - Haul said packing materials to dump.
Step 3 - Re-cycle cleaner cardboard boxes.
Step 4 - Spend the next year clearing collectibles and stuff saved out of storage.
Step 5 - Dispose of said collectibles and junk any way possible. (3rd pickup load about ready for donation. ? to go)

It's good to have goals and plans.

Reading Again

Somewhere back about 1979 when I became a foster mother I found it necessary to give up reading, crafts and crocheting. It was about being a single mother and working full time. I went on to adopt and wouldn't change a thing about that. I did resume crocheting and other hobbies, but never did get back to reading books. I had this problem of falling asleep or just spacing out and had to re-read about every page. I did continue reading short stories such as Reader's Digest and Guidepost articles in the "reading room".

In January 2009 we traveled with my sister and brother-in-law to Hawaii and during the long flights and rest times I resumed reading books! I still had problems staying awake and concentrating until I got an iPad about a year ago. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I am able to read "normally" again. I think it might be that I can enlarge the font and it has the lighted page. Guess I have to admit my ageing eyesight was part of the problem lately, since I can't use the "worn out single young mother" excuse anymore.

I just answered a question on Facebook about my favorite book, and it's "Dog On It" by Spencer Quinn. It's fairly light reading, very funny and entertaining. It was the first book I've really enjoyed in years. Next to that would be "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. This one tested my new resolve to read, with it's length, many many characters, twists and turns and years in the plot. But hey, I haven't been reading again long enough to really chose a smashing good favorite book. Years ago when I was an addictive reader my favorites included all of the books by Jane Austin, Thomas Hardy, Tolstoy and other classics.

Today is Mom's beauty shop day, so I usually take my reading along, nothing too deep with all the distractions there. I just chose one on my iPad that I haven't read: "How Not to Act Old" by Pamela Redmond Satran. One passage in the introduction reads: "You thought you'd be cool forever. And then, seemingly overnight, the evil young changed all the rules and you're left feeling... well, definitely something other than awesome." Now that's something I can definitely identify with. Should be good.

TGIF! Have a good one and a great weekend too.