Ass goal: Plan

I have a new plan. Before I got laid off from my position at the university, some 7 years ago, I was planning on retiring at age 59 1/2. Enter 5 years of under and unemployment and those funds have evaporated. For a while I thought I would never get to get out of the rat race but I see a partial light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll be 62 on my next birthday and if I go ahead and take my SS at that time, though it will be less than if I wait till I’m 66, I can work part time and bring in the same amount I make now. That’s two weeks I can play with the beanies, swim, travel to see my other daughter, maybe even do a little pottery again!

I’m just bone-weary and don’t want my beanies to grow up before I get a chance to play with them. My daughter is excited about this plan as it will give her more alone time, something she has very little of.

I hope it all works out.

I’ve got to work this weekend but I don’t mind. I’m grateful for the job, good people with whom to work, a good night’s sleep, a healthy little dog and so much more.

My last day at work was today. I worked through our big event, which I helped plan. I left after it started. I feel so free. And…drum roll please – I got a job offer this afternoon! I’m taking a few days and going to the beach with the beanies but will go in and talk with them next Wednesday. Yay! A little happy dance here.

My life is in a bit of turmoil that I can’t share here and it has me nervous. I’ve found that what calms me is cooking. It’s probably the planning part and the actually doing something that helps. I sit so much. I stare at a screen all day. No wonder my eyes are bad and my butt is spreading. Cooking makes me feel like I’m actually accomplishing something. I used to make things, useful things, with my own hands. Now all I do is ask people for money. I have got to get back to actually doing things, making things. All this verbal regurgitation is making me old.

Tomorrow I assemble baskets for the beanies. Then I go to their house for dinner for my/jellybeanie’s birthday. On Sat. the granbeanie comes over to do rocks and Easter eggs. On Sunday everyone comes here for dinner. A busy but love-filled weekend.

I have another room. I sold my hot tub today and now my Florida room is empty! It needs painting. I bought the hot tub in 2000. I remember picking it out and going home only to receive the worst phone call of my life: my best friend had fallen down her basement steps and died instantly from a head injury. The purchase of the hot tub faded quickly but still I had to deal with it. After taking a week off to grieve I had it delivered to my house. I had the room built for it and the fit was tight. I thought I’d never be able to get it out again in one piece but five strong, young men had no trouble with it at all and it’s gone now.

So, now I need to plan what to do with the room. I will paint it, for sure, and put up blinds. I would like to move my kiln into it and run new wiring to the room for it. I just need to be certain all is safe. Of course, it would be nice to have a nice room for just relaxing, but I will only do that if I can get my kiln working properly where it is.

I will call the manufacturer for their thoughts.

I’ll start Sat. with a swim. Then the granbeanie will get to see her first batch of tumbled rocks all finished! I’ll take Sweetie for a doggie sweater as I had her shaved and she’s cold. I have to bake my Valentine’s cookies. And I have to do something with my half-fired salt cellars. Plus the laundry, housework, etc.

I am really going to miss her, personally, sure, but professionally, oh my! I will be taking on many of her responsibilities and I’m not thrilled about it. She did the lion’s share of reporting and as a new project is likely to launch in March, I’ll have to take on that solo as well. I’m happy for her but not looking forward to my job without her.

My kiln is fried. It wasn’t just the breaker. The thing is dead and all the little salt cellars I made are half-fired. I’ve asked a potter friend if she will refire for me. But likely my kiln will be expensive to fix. Sigh.

I made salt cellars for my daughter’s wedding (long story) and it didn’t turn out well. When I checked the kiln after it had been firing for hours, I found it glowing red but dead. I’m hoping it just threw the breaker and didn’t fry the computer. Argh. I won’t know until tonight or even tomorrow as I have to let it cool before I open it. But regardless, I plan on fixing whatever is wrong. It may just be the insufficient wiring. I hope by firing I didn’t damage it but if I did, I’ll have it fixed. It’s only money.