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Afternoons In The Fast Lane

Since retiring, my afternoons are just a tad bit laid back.

When I worked, I spend my lunch hour doing stuff like paying bills, running errands, and sometimes I actually ate lunch. Once a week I did important stuff like getting pedicures mentoring little children, or donating blood. Every so often I would actually sleep work at my desk.

Since retiring, things have changed ever so slightly. Now, I try to go out to lunch at least once a week. I do my Friday Matinee Reviews.....hey wait, where did this week go? OK, so sometimes I do my Friday Matinee on Mondays.

JJ gets so lonely during the day and misses his Mommy and sister and brother, so I try to swing by and take him for a ride, and then play for a while....which always involves plenty of kisses and treats. If his sister is home, I'll let her do the driving around the immediate neighborhood. Hi State Farm Agent!

I take up the slack for my daughter on chauffeuring the kids home or to work, or maybe even a play date with Grandma J a dinner at Chili's or Cheddars.

This week I've done some afternoon baking because Ree, over at Pioneer Woman, invited some bloggers to come to her ranch and bake with Barbarella Bakerella. I was snubbed decided to virtually play along and bake with them...sort of. Besides, today we had plenty of rain, which gives me a good excuse to stay in and get creative.

Besides my daughter and grandkids, I have some other human contact here in Texas. Yes, I do...and I'm not just talking about Gary at ATT, Dr. Bob or the cable guy.

I have a few semi friends here at the Compound, we might do something once a month or just visit. But really most people here are old. I have two friends outside the Compound and get this! All four of them are named Michelle!!

Michelle #1 is my daughter's neighbor across the street. She's an RN and works long hours. Her husband is deployed so I help out when needed, picking her daughter up at the high school.

Michelle #2 is a baseball mom, and her son is on my grandson's team. She is a new friend and might be reading this...."hi Michelle". I'm not sure she knows she's my friend.

Michelle #3 is another baseball Mom who I' have known for almost two years now. She and her husband own a T-Shirt printing shop and she also moonlights at Starbucks. What I really love about Michelle #3 is the fact that she calls me to come get her free pound of coffee every so often because she doesn't drink coffee. She's also a fun person who likes to go to bingo every six months.....a real plus? She's not old. Hi Michelle.


Michelle #4 is this gal. She has been doing my pedicures and manicures since before I moved to Texas! I used to get my nails done on my visits to Texas, and it's possible Michelle is the reason I moved here. Not likely, but possible. If you can't tell, Michelle doesn't want her picture taken because she's in a witness protection program very shy. Hi Michelle!

Yesterday, I went to see Michelle #4 at the nail salon for my bi-weekly pedicure.


She likes me to soak for two hours because I won't let her use the cheese grater on my heals. So, I soak until the blue stuff melts away the callouses.

See? Being retired is exhausting! And just so you know....I don't watch Oprah, Ellen or Dr. Phil.

NOTE: Just so you know....commenter loxandlo is my old boss...not that she's old, because she's not.....it's just that I have to clarify, any goofing off or slacking was never, ever done while I worked in Geomatics. I waited until she retired, and I went to Administration...we all know that's where the gravy train is. And now we are both retired and good friends.