On Friday the 13th: The Countdown Begins!

Today, I went to the office in the morning and found that the office elves had been busy at work, decorating my cubicle:

One more week to go!

I had a fairly productive morning - I have been requested to print out and compile a folder of emails relating to a project I worked on; while I do that, I am taking the opportunity to go through 4,000+ saved emails and labeling them with project names as needed (some have been labeled, earlier, but a few hadn't been labeled) and deleting others that contain dated information ("new" letterheads from 2010 aren't that "new" anymore!)  and are no longer pertinent (no one will be interested in emails certifying that I completed my annual commuter survey in 2015 or my Fire Safety training earlier this year, once I am retired).  As for the countdown, I will work until next Friday, then go on vacation until the end of summer.  I won't hand in the retirement papers until sometime in August.  I might also go in to the office, a day here or a day there, between the end of next week and the beginning of my official retirement, to finish up some things.

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:

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":

"Hurry up and finish taking your photos, Mummy, so I can have a broccoli leaf."

7/13 Grocery Receipt

I spent a total of $3.56.  I will consider this as my July Week 2, Part 2, as it is more of a top-up grocery shopping than a full shopping trip.

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?

Office Elves!

I went to the office this morning and discovered that the office elves had been busy!

On top of the cubicle walls

There were streamers hanging from the ceiling and a banner on the outside of the cubicle walls, but I forgot to take pictures of them.

On my coat rack

There were also stickers, all over the cubicle - on the outside and inside of the wall panels, and

On the computer monitor

On the locker

For a moment, I thought they had the date wrong and thought that today was my last day, not next Friday!  Then, I thought maybe they wanted me gone sooner!   But, I've been assured that they just wanted me to enjoy the decorations all next week, instead of just the last day. 

These "elves" go out of their way every year to cheer up our offices during various holidays.  They spoil the rest of us with candy and doughnuts and various treats throughout the year.  They, and the rest of my colleagues, have done much to make it easier for me to do my work over the past 35 years.  They have been a big blessing in my life and I am so grateful to have known them and for their many acts of kindness.  I know I am going to miss them all. 

Sleepy Thursday

It was 3:30 a.m. when I last looked at the clock, last night.  When the alarms went off at 7:00 a.m., I turned them off and slept till 9:00 a.m.!  I emailed my supervisor to let him know that I was running late, this morning, and would be in around 11:00 a.m.  However, the shuttle bus I take from the old office (where I am still parking my car!) to the new office broke down and by the time I waited for the next bus and got to the office, it was about 11:30 a.m. 

I had a productive afternoon at the office, although things got a bit hectic towards the end of the day.  I really need to set aside a day, next week, to clear my desk!

I was tired by the time I got home, today.  So, instead of vacuuming my bedroom and doing another load of laundry, I watched some TV and took a nap on the sofa!  Later, I video chatted with my daughter who had also taken a nap!  I also flea combed Dancer, who didn't like it and I've the scars to prove it!

Today, I am grateful for:
- I was able to go in late to work
- I had a productive day at work
- An evening nap
- Emails from friends
- Video chatting with my daughter

Friday (the 13!)'s To Do List:
- Go to the office in the morning
- Doctor's appointment in the afternoon
- Undone tasks from Thursday's list

How was your Thursday?  What have you planned for Friday the 13th?

Wednesday's Accomplishments

Another relatively cool day, today, with daytime highs in the 90s.  Comfortable temperatures, as far as I am concerned.

I had a surprise call this morning!  The doctor's billing office returned my calls!  The person who called me was the same person I had spoken with at least twice and one of those times was during a three-way call with her, the insurance representative, and myself.  Yet, today, she insisted that talking to the insurance group was of no use, that I needed to call the HMO IPA.  She also wanted me to call her back, after I spoke with the HMO IPA.  So, I called the HMO IPA and spoke with a customer service representative, who initially thought I was a provider calling about a patient and seemed very surprised when I told her that I was the patient.  She looked up my claim and said I was not responsible for paying the bill and to disregard it.

After that, I called the billing office again, but the person I spoke with in the morning (E) was on another call, I was told, so I left a message with the person who answered the phone (R).  She was rather skeptical about the whole thing, asking for additional proof that I spoke with the IPA: did they say they were going to pay the bill (they said they'll contact the billing office), did they give a reference number (no, but I gave them the reference number that E had given me), etc.  I was told that they will keep the billing open until they received payment and if their auditors find the bill was not paid by the next audit date, they will bill me again!  Indeed!  Well, if they do bill me again, I guess I will be making additional phone calls by the end of the month!  LOL!

Well, that was one item on my to do list that got accomplished.  But, after all that, I didn't feel like calling the other doctor's office to schedule my screening tests (endoscopy/colonoscopy).  I put that off till tomorrow.

I had another productive day at the office.  I completed another project (or, at least, got it to a point where the next person can take over with minimal effort).  I also started to clear some work emails.  Some of it dates back to 2010 which was when we switched to our current email system.  Some, I am required to keep because they pertain to specific projects, but there are others that I can delete at this point.

After I came home, I tidied and vacuumed the family room and did a load of laundry (one blanket was washed).  I also did a quick clean of daughter's bathroom, which is also the visitor's bathroom.  Tomorrow, I plan to vacuum the bedrooms.  I am hoping that I'll be able to continue to do one or two rooms or areas each day and get into a cleaning routine.  I have no staying power; I'll implement routines and carry them out for a couple of weeks at the most and then, I go back to being my messy self!

Friend R called as I was tidying up and I chatted with her for a bit.  We arranged to go out to lunch on Saturday and I offered her a ride to the monthly prayer gathering on Sunday.

Later, as I was getting something out of the fridge to warm up for dinner, I knocked the butter dish down and it fell and broke.  This was a relatively new butter dish as the old one also fell and broke!  Now I need to find yet another new butter dish!  I was just sweeping up the glass when my cousin V and her husband came (cousin had called me earlier to let me know they were coming) to pick up the big brass oil lamp; they were borrowing it for their son's wedding (it will be lit as part of the wedding rituals).

After they left, I had my dinner and video chatted with my daughter.  She had no fever today and went to work.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter is well, again
- A safe drive to work and back
- I was able to get a little more cleaning done
- Another cooler day
- Visit from cousin, phone call from a friend, email from another friend

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office - DONE
- Call the billing office - DONE
- Call the doctor's office

- Tidy and vacuum the family room - DONE

- Wash a blanket - DONE

I am pleased with what I was able to accomplish, today.

Thursday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Call the doctor's office
- Vacuum the bedrooms
- Dust my bedroom
- Clean my bathroom
- Do another load of laundry (another blanket)

How was your Wednesday?  How good are you with maintaining cleaning routines? 

Cooler onTuesday

It was a much cooler day, today.  The house was a very comfortable 80F when I woke up and the outside temperature was 84F when I left for work.  When I came home, it was only 88F, outside, which is more than 20 degrees cooler than it was over the weekend.

My daughter texted me early in the morning saying she had a low grade fever of 100F, last night and this morning.  She called in sick and took the day off from work.  Then, apparently, she slept from about 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and, again, from around 2:30 p.m. till 6:30 p.m.  She said she felt better this evening, but still a little tired.  We video chatted for a little while and then said goodnight.  I told her to check her temperature again and to take another day off tomorrow, if needed.  But she thinks she'll be well enough to go to the office, tomorrow.

I didn't feel like going to the office, myself, today (but not because I was not feeling well, jut feeling lazy), but I went to the office and had a fairly productive day.

After I came home, I relaxed for a bit.  Later in the evening, when it had cooled down a little more, I dusted and tidied the living room and the dining room and vacuumed those two rooms, the kitchen, and the hallway.  If it remains cooler, tomorrow, too, I will tidy the family room and vacuum it.

Today, I am grateful for:

- My daughter seems to have recovered from her fever
- She was able to take a day of sick leave and rest
- The cooler temperatures
- A productive day at the office
- Being able to get some housework done

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office - DONE
- Bring in the trash cans - DONE
- Put away the dried laundry from Monday - DONE
- Wash one of the knitted blankets
- Call the billing office
- Call the doctor's office to schedule the endoscopy/colonoscopy

I didn't launder one of the blankets but I dusted the living room and dining room and vacuumed.  I think that was a fair exchange!  I didn't do the phone calls as I didn't have time during the day.

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Call the billing office
- Call the doctor's office

- Tidy and vacuum the family room

- Wash a blanket

How was your Tuesday?  Were you able to accomplish most of what you wanted to accomplish today?

Monday: Daughter Goes Back

Daughter and I had a relaxed morning,  Then, she finished packing her bags and I packed up the last of the glass noodles for her to take back, along with the rest of the bagels.  That way, she doesn't have to cook anything for dinner and she'll have something to take for her breakfast and lunch, tomorrow.

Her flight was at 2:30 p.m., with boarding starting at 2:00 p.m.  So, I dropped her off at the airport by 1:00 p.m., since she needs to be at the airport one hour before boarding.  It was 100F, outside, at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon; 88F inside the house.  After I came home, I had lunch (daughter ate before she left).

Later in the afternoon, I took a nap.  I think the hot weather makes me sleepy!  I woke up once, when my cousin V called and, again, when daughter called to say she landed.  Then, I slept again, until daughter called to say she got to her apartment. 

After I woke up from my nap and had a cup of tea, I watched the evening news, wrote to a friend, emptied the waste baskets, cleaned the litter box, took the trash out and the big trash cans to the curb for pick up, tomorrow, put water to the front garden (with the garden hose), watered the back yard (with the sprinklers), did a load of laundry (mostly towels), had dinner, emptied the dishwasher, washed today's dishes by hand, and video chatted with daughter.  She said she decided not to go to her acrobatics class as she was feeling a little queasy.  She wasn't sure why she felt queasy, but I think she might have been tired from all the activity of the recent days and she probably walked the couple of miles from the subway station to her apartment instead of waiting for the bus, too; I'm glad she decided not to go for acrobatics and took it easy this evening. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter had a safe flight and subway ride back
- She had a wonderful time at the Anime Expo
- We had a good visit, even though we didn't spend a lot of time together on this visit
- It was slightly cooler today
- Afternoon naps
 
Tuesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Bring in the trash cans
- Put away the dried laundry from Monday
- Wash one of the knitted blankets
- Call the billing office
- Call the doctor's office to schedule the endoscopy/colonoscopy

In addition, I need to call to schedule the car for a service, but that can be done later in the week. 

How was your Monday?  Did you have a good day? 

Sunday: Last Day of Anime Expo

Totoro and a Soot Ball

On the last day of Anime Expo, daughter dressed as a character named Totoro who is a woodland spirit.  Accompanying Totoro is a Soot Ball, which are household spirits similar to dust bunnies, but formed from soot.  Totoro has a grey coat with a white front with grey chevrons.    Daughter's grey skirt is something she's had since middle school!  The tank top is new (bought for $2.00) and she cut grey felt chevrons and hot glued them to the tank top.  The Soot Ball, safety pinned to the tank top was given to her at a previous Anime Expo.  She made the ears from grey felt.  She drew a black nose and whiskers on her face (although her face is covered in the picture I've posted).

I dropped her off at the convention center around 11:00 a.m., today, and came home.  It was slightly cooler today (101F instead of 110F).  I did the grocery week 2 post, changed the sofa dust sheets again, put away yesterday's laundry and did another load of laundry, watched some Wimbledon tennis on TV (highlights from yesterday's matches), and took an afternoon nap!

Daughter took some pictures to share:

A view of the crowds at the Anime Expo

She said these signs were located throughout the convention center:

"Cosplay is not Consent" Signs

And, if the crowds got to be too much and you wanted to just have a place to retreat to:

A Safe Space

One last picture before the event ended:

Empty Spaces and the Clean Up Crew 

Susan had asked what people did at the Anime Expo, so daughter took pictures of the schedule for me to share:

Day 1 Schedule

Day 2 Schedule

Day 3 Schedule

Day 4 Schedule

According to my daughter, there are various discussion panels, work shops, movies including world premiers of various anime movies, video games, concerts and performances, competitions, karaoke, as well as vendors selling all kinds of anime-related items. Most workshops and panel discussions start at 9:00 a.m., and concerts and performances, etc., go on till about 3:00 a.m.

Daughter called a little before 4:30 p.m. to say she didn't want to stay for the closing ceremony (which ended at 6:00 p.m.) and was ready to be picked up.  I picked her up in front of the convention center a little before 5:30 p.m.  We stopped to pick up some beef fried rice, glass noodle salad, and a Thai iced coffee from our favorite Thai restaurant, even though there were leftovers at home.  Came home, ate an early dinner, and relaxed a bit.

Later, I watered the indoor plants, did the dishes (some by hand, the rest in the dishwasher), and wiped down the kitchen counters.  Daughter cleaned the litter box and I swept the bathroom floor. 

Cousin P called in the morning and we chatted a bit.  Later in the evening, I called neighbor T, since she hadn't called me in the morning for our usual Sunday morning chat, to check on her, especially in this heat.  She was fine, she said (she has no a/c, but she has a swamp cooler); she had gone grocery shopping in the morning and that was why she didn't call me.

Today, I am grateful for:
- A slightly cooler day
- Daughter had another fun day
- Safe drives to and from the convention center
- Our favorite take out meal for dinner
- A relaxed evening

Daughter flies back to Berkeley, tomorrow.  I have taken the day off from work to spend the morning with her and take her to the airport in the afternoon.

How was your Sunday?  Are you managing to keep cool during the summer?