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| One more week to go! |
I had a much-rescheduled (originally scheduled in June!) doctor's appointment this afternoon. So, I took the afternoon off and went to the doctor's appointment. It was a routine check up/follow up and my blood pressure and blood sugar readings were good, but my weight had gone up and neither the doctor, nor I, are happy about that! I also updated her on all the other medical appointments I've had since I last saw her in March and she ordered some blood tests to see how my iron levels are after taking the iron supplements and all the various other things she checks me for on a routine basis, I have a follow-up appointment with her in August, to see what the blood test results are, etc. It is my goal to lose 5 lbs. between now and that appointment.
I mentioned to her that I was retiring from work and she immediately told me that staying home after retirement is not an option! I am to get involved with an activity or two and she recommended I get a dog (as having one would require daily walks, etc.) I told her that Dancer might have something to say about us having a dog! LOL!
After the doctor's appointment, I went to the pharmacy to pick up a refill that was ready (for my inhaler). Then, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few items:
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| July 13 Groceries |
I needed milk ($1.99 for 1/2 gallon) and bananas (@$.59/lb). I bought just three bananas, only, because bananas ripen very fast in this heat (97F, today) and I don't like bananas when they are very ripe. The bagels were reduced to $.99 (sell by date of 7/16), and since I had given the rest of the previous package of bagels to daughter to take back with her, I bought this package, for me. The green leaves nestled between the bananas and the bagels are some broccoli leaves for Dancer. I had put them in the same bag as the bananas and told the cashier they were for my cat. She wanted to take them out of the bag to weigh the bananas, but I said it was OK to weigh the bananas with the broccoli leaves (there were only about 3 or 4 small leaves).
Oh, but where is Dancer? For those who like to play, "Spot the Dancer":
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| "Hurry up and finish taking your photos, Mummy, so I can have a broccoli leaf." |
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| 7/13 Grocery Receipt |
July Grocery Budget = $100 - $3.78 over-spent in June = $96.22
Spent to date = $27.21 + $6.49 + $3.56 = $37.26
Balance left in July grocery budget = $96.22 - $37.26 = $58.96
I have finally finished the leftovers from last week, when daughter was visiting! I need to do some cooking this weekend. A smoked sausage stir fry and a fish curry using canned mackerel, perhaps, with some vegetables to go with them.
Friend M had called and left a message saying he's not feeling well and would not be able to do the garden, today. I hope he's OK and can rest over the weekend, although I know that Saturdays are his busy days. Working outdoors in this heat is very taxing and not good for anybody.
The evening was filled with phone calls! Aunt C, cousins P and N, and friends F and R! Later, I video chatted with daughter.
The phone calls kept me busy. I didn't vacuum or do laundry. But, I did comb Dancer, again, and this time, he let me.
Today, I am grateful for:
- My colleagues who decorated my cubicle for me as a surprise
- A good visit with the doctor
- A safe drive to the office and clinic and back
- Phone calls with family and friends
- A relaxed evening
Well, I only got a couple of things crossed off my To Do list, today, but that's OK. I'll work on it over the weekend.
Saturday's To Do List:
- Cut out and start sewing my sari blouse!
- Do the dishes
- Go out for an early dinner with friend R
- Water the garden and indoor plants
- Laundry
- Catch up on the undone items from the To Do list!
How was your Friday the 13th? Did you have a good day? What are your plans for the weekend?
Well you have a sedentary job right now so I'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard to maintain your activity or be more active in retirement, when you have the time and energy. I don't understand why people assume that having a dog will make you more active. How many people just open the back door and just let the dog go do its business in the backyard instead of taking it on a walk? I would say that's the majority of people here. Everyone seems to have a dog and you very rarely see anyone walking them! Either that or they all drive them to the dog park.
ReplyDeleteHow funny that Dancer likes eating broccoli leaves! I'll have to see if my kitties want to try those the next time I have some! They have been getting into my tiny homegrown tomatoes at night, since I let them ripen on the countertop. I've found a couple of the skins, well chewed, on the floor when I woke up!
Have a great weekend, Bless!
Several of my neighbors have dogs and they don't take them for walks, either! The dogs run around in the backyards and that's about it. I don't think I'll want to get a dog, but, I might be able to volunteer at the animal shelter and walk their dogs, perhaps. Or, I could offer to walk my neighbor's dog for her - except he growls and barks at me every time I visit her! She usually puts him out when she knows I'm coming over.
DeleteAs for Dancer and broccoli leaves, he likes his greens! Broccoli leaves, spinach, cauliflower leaves, even lettuce! Wheat grass is a favorite, too. I need to grow some more, for him.
Thank you, Nathalie. I hope you have a lovely weekend, too.
So, your Doctor wants you to move more? I don't see that as a problem in your retirement, but at least you will be more aware of your need for physical activity. Sitting at a desk working is not a substitute for working out, but I am sure you will be much more "on the go" than you are presently. This week may seem very long. I hope it passes quickly.
ReplyDeleteYes, my doctor wants me to move more and be more active. I am definitely aware of it, but I have not been quite as consistent with my daily walks, lately. I do walk, but for shorter distances than before. My plan after retirement is to start walking on a more consistent basis, again. Between that and the gardening I plan to do, I think I'll get more physical activity. I am also thinking of joining the local YMCA - they offer water aerobics, yoga, etc. I need to call them to find out about fees, etc., but a couple of classes a week will be a good thing. Once upon a time, I took dance classes at the same dance studio as my daughter; I started out with one class and ended up taking several classes, going in almost daily!
DeleteActually, I am afraid next week will go by too quickly and I won't have the time to accomplish all I want to do at the office! I still have at least one last project to finish, before I clean out the box of files, etc. I am off on Monday, so I just have 4 days in which to do everything!
I figure now that you are retiring you can howl at the moon and dance all you want to! That will keep you active, but might make the neighbors talk!
ReplyDeleteAwooooooooo! LOL! I think the neighbors talk about me, already! I am that crazy cat lady who feeds all the strays and feral cats in the neighborhood and complains when they park their vehicles and block her drive way! :D
DeleteOnce I started looking for things to do after retirement was pleasantly surprised at how many different activities there are in my local area, so I hope it proves to be the same for you. What about swimming - is that something you'd enjoy?
ReplyDeleteI had exactly the same thing, where friends tried to encourage me to get a dog. I didn't want the ties of owning an animal as it would have made travelling, even day trips, even more difficult with the continual need to find someone to look after it in my absence so I eventually got them to see things from my point of view. Now that I am finding it painful to walk, the conversation is along the lines of "just as well you didn't get a dog because you'd be really struggling to look after it now wouldn't you", as if it had been my idea and they'd persuaded me not to. Sometimes you just can't win!!
There are lots of things to do, but I will take my time and pick and choose just one or two things to begin with. I have medical appointments lined up from now till September, at least a couple of appointments a month. I will still need to go into the office a couple of times between now and actual retirement to finish up a couple of things, too.
DeleteI can't swim! Don't know how!
A dog is a lot of work, and, like you, I don't want to be tied down! Having a cat is bad enough (he's actually my daughter's cat, but she left him with me when she went to Berkeley, because she has to pay extra rent to keep a pet in her apartment), but I can leave him for about 3 days, as long as I leave plenty of food and water and a spare litter box. I've done that when I've gone to visit my daughter for the weekend.
The doctor was funny - she was saying a dog needs a lot of attention and it's like having a baby! And I thought to myself, I've done my time looking after a baby! LOL. I'd love to have a grandchild to fuss over, one day, but that's different, isn't it?
Hi Bless I have been away from the blogging world because of ill health, but things are starting to get back to normal for me. Congrats on your upcoming retirement, it seems like yesterday you were talking of retiring in August and then I realised that August is nearly here!
ReplyDeleteDancer would be very unhappy if you get a dog. I dont think you need to worry about exercise as at home you dont sit still all day like you do in an office environment.
Sharon, I'm sorry you've been ill, but glad to hear that you are on the mend.
DeleteThank you! Plans have changed slightly after attending a retirement counseling session - I have decided to take my accumulated vacation up front, instead of taking a pay out which will be taxed at lump sum rates. So, I won't officially retire until the end of summer, but this Friday is my last day at the office! :)