Monday Upsides: Learning to Sit Still

It's snowing again. This is the 5th snow storm we have had in February. There seems to be no end to it this week. Snow through Thursday and the temps are not warm enough to melt it. All I can think of is the many layers of dog poo that await me in March.

 

 

Monday Upsides:

• I'm home after an 11 day house sitting job
• It's starting to be light at 6:30am
• Only 12 more working Mondays to go
• I finally cut and colored my hair this weekend
• I am halfway through Amy Poehler's book Yes Please on audible
• I watched the Oscars last night all the way from beginning to end. I am learning to embrace sitting still. Wasn't Bradley Cooper dreamy when he smiled at Lady Gaga at the end of their song together? I heard his talk with Oprah on her Super Soul Sunday podcast. He's a sweetie!

I've been talking to and emailing the retirement benefits person in Juneau. All I am asking for is some kind of confirmation letter that my benefits are in place and that there will be no hitches on June 1st. That seems to be like pulling teeth. All I can say is that when these people who are in charge of retirement get to be my age, they'll understand the importance of being stressed about lapsing coverage. You don't want that to happen at my age. So, I am preparing myself to have to work a week or two into June to guarantee that I don't have that happen. If I receive medical insurance cards in the mail prior to the middle of May, I can adjust that but right now all I can do is wait. I'd like to give my employer an ending date but it is not in the cards for me to do that yet. It's gettin' real!

 

Okay. Well, no text from work that we are on a 2 hour delay. Guess I'd better get moving. Is it wrong I should go poke at the hubs to get up out of his nice warm bed?
 

love, susan

Side Hustle Observations

I'm home now from an 11 day dog/house sitting gig. I enjoyed my little side hustle job but was definitely ready to come home to my own dogs. Some observations I made about myself while there were ....

 

I eat terrible when no one is watching.

It sort of feels like a vacation when I house sit. This is bad thinking on my part. If I am going to make this a side hustle for real, I need to give this a lot of thought and plan what I'll need to take with me to eat well. A bag of chips and buttermilk, not so much.

 

No matter my plans for reading, if there is a movie to watch it will trump time with a book.

I don't know. I don't think I need to beat myself up over watching movies. I don't do it very often so it felt like a huge treat to myself. Due to my lack of technology, I ended up watching a free movie channel that plays movie after movie with no choices. I watched movies that I would not have ordinarily picked from a line up. This, me thinks, was a good thing. I watched The Last Castle (starring Robert Redford), The Gambler (starring Mark Wahlberg),The Duchess (starring Kiera Knightley), and a couple others whose titles I forget already. I also watched Netflix on my phone and finished the latest seasons of House of Cards and Shameless. Glad to check those off my list.

 

I don't think I can ever live alone. I need people. But, I did enjoy watching whole movies without interaction or interruption from anyone. 

I did go out and meet a friend for dinner one evening but for the most part I crashed after work each day last week. We have had 4 winter storms in the last 14 days and it was stressful. Today, we are in the middle of our 5th winter storm, perhaps a record for February in eastern Washington. Weather can be isolating.

 

My gig included a home
sauna. It was heaven.

I had many ideas

I really like dog/house sitting for dog lovers. It is a service that is sorely needed and I am glad I am in a position to be able to do it. It isn't about the $$ because trust me, there are easier ways to make money but the reason I really love doing it is that it creates a different path for what seems like a rut in my life. My dogs hate going to the kennel and I know most people would much prefer to have a house sitter. I get to enjoy other people's dogs and it feels a bit like a vacation for me. While I was sitting alone, I was thinking that I would like to start a business (side hustle) that goes beyond dog sitting. I would like to be that girl that gets called to do things for other people that they either don't have time for or they just hate doing.  Little side jobs. Gigs that don't take more than 2 hours but pay enough to make it worth getting dressed for and driving across town. Let me be the girl that helps you sort and file those huge stacks of paper on your desk. Call me if you are expecting company this weekend and need someone to come do some topical dusting, change the sheets, do some grocery shopping, wash windows, whatever. It's not that I need the money. I really like helping others in ways that are to find help for. A personal assistant, that's what I envision. It would be word of mouth kind of thing.  Hey, I hired Susan to come straighten up my garage. It only took her 2 hours and didn't cost me an arm and a leg and now it's done! The dog sitting gig has been word of mouth and has really caught on. I have a job line up again for this coming weekend but it is only 2 nights. I'm glad it's a short one.

 

I have soup in the crock pot and I'm going to kick back the rest of today and just pet my dogs.

 

How about you ... if you could hire someone to do a job you hate doing, what would it be?  I can use your ideas!

 

(photos below are random from this week)

 

love, susan

 

 

This is Brady. He sat on my lap every day for 11 days. So
stinking sweet.

 

Jill and Jax. They were my bed buddies.

 

This was at the end of 11 days. We're getting another half foot today.

 


This is our granddaughter on her first official
paid photo shoot. It was for a bridal company.
Can you believe she is only 17? She is as sweet as
she is beautiful.

 


My roommates for 11 days.

Monday Upsides: Even Though It's Tuesday

Monday upsides: only 12 more to retirement.  As I write this, it is Tuesday. President's Day was welcomed and now we're having a busy day to make up for it. I cling to the though t I have so few working Mondays remaining. It's not snowing. The hubs doesn't have an aorta aneurysm. I had two great conversations with my son and a friend yesterday. And, lunch out with hubs yesterday left me good memories. We tried a new dish (Jungle Curry) at our favorite thai place. I got my Mini Cooper out of the garage after a one week, non-stop snow storm and we're running the streets again. Seems like a lot of good stuff happens on Monday. Who knew?  love, susan

Stopping Dragging My Quilt Around

I've been dog/house sitting for a friend. We're on day 4 right now. Last night I arrived at my home away from home to find a queen sized quilt, two towels, my denim jacket, and two canvas shopping bags out in the snow. All were frozen solid. How'd they get there? Through the doggie door, of course. I had a good laugh about it. I had been warned that perhaps if I left my shoes/boots on the floor, they'd end up chewed up but this dragging things out to the yard surprised me. So, I dragged everything in and got it laundered. This morning I placed the towels down in front of the doggie door to help soak up some of the snow as the dogs come in. I took a shower and came out to find Jill proudly guarding one of the towels she had dragged back out. I decided to take up the towels until I arrive home tonight. 🐾 Dogs talk to us in ways that force us to listen. As much as I am doing my best to make their lives as normal as possible but they surely miss their person. It's all good. I'll just be more mindful to pick up anything that looks like it can be dragged thru a small door. Otherwise, these sweet babies are keeping me good company and they love to guard me when I'm sleeping. The little one burrows under the covers and honestly, I have woken up every night to check his breathing. How can they breath under the covers, that's what I want to know. 🐾 I am looking forward to having some time to spend outdoors with them tomorrow, throwing a snowball or two. And, then after I wear them out a little, perhaps they'll sit to watch some Netflix with me. I finished House of Cards and now I'm finishing the last season of Shameless.

Do you have any Netflix recommendations for me? I've got a 3 day weekend!

love, susan

Monday Upsides: Snowmageddon 2019 Carries On

We are in the middle of  Snowmageddon 2019  in Eastern Washington. I finally dug out enough to get out on the main street for a trip to the grocery store and gas station. We have seen dozens of cars high centered in the snow on side streets. Imagine my surprise when I look to my right while filling up gas and see this guy in his shorts. I think it is a bit optimistic to think he isn't going to get stuck somewhere along the lines today, but maybe he's gonna get on the highway and drive to Portland. A bit judgy on my part, I suppose.  (giggles) A friend I am supposed to be dog/house sitting for has been trying to fly out to Seattle since Saturday. It's not looking good for today either. Her final destination is Belize. Never give up, that's my motto!

 

Monday Upsides:

• It is not snowing at the moment.
• Fred Meyer is within walking distance so if I get stuck again, I'm not gonna starve.
• We had delayed start today at work.
• Winter is almost over but she's telling us who is boss.
• My dogs LOVE LOVE LOVE chasing the Kong in the deep snow.

 

MONDAY COUNTDOWN TO RETIREMENT: 

13 Mondays to go!

 

Hope you're safe and warm wherever you are.  Got any Monday upsides?

 

love, susan

This dog belongs on the Iditarod trail!



That's not a cold foot she is holding up. She is anticipating
me throwing the Kong I am using to get her focus!



I love this girl.



Winter is tough on the critters.



My daughter-in-law made this and sent a jar
all the way from Denver.
It is SO YUMMY!

 

Got Grace?

I witness grace on an almost daily basis in my work day. Yesterday was no exception. I saw it in a handshake, tone of voice, eye contact, and words spoken by a prosecutor to someone who finished their prison sentence and is now in the financial part of their amends.

 

While I see these things and at the very moment I don't know the exact word to put on it, grace is what came to me this morning. So, I looked up the synonyms for it and found politeness, courteousness, good manners, civility, respect, respectfulness, deference, chivalry, gallantry, good breeding, gentility, graciousness, kindness, consideration, thought, thoughtfulness, cordiality, geniality, affability, urbanity, polish, refinement, courtliness, decorousness, tact, discretion, diplomacy.

 

Grace.

 

Please never let me forget to extend it even in situations where it may not be deserved. Sometimes situations will not turn out the way the seeker wishes. That doesn't mean we have to be mean spirited or lose our integrity in handling it. There is never a good reason for me to pour salt into a wound or to wish someone ill. Grace. Pass it on. Embrace it. Lean into it. Let it be who you are.

 

That's all.

 

love, susan

Monday Upsides:

Remi loves to laze around.

I stayed home yesterday. Just couldn't do people. I mostly stayed in my jammies and slept off and on all day. I read half a book and watched Alec Baldwin talk in the The Ellen Show. And, watched it snow.

MONDAY UPSIDES:

Only 14 working Mondays to go.

I was okay in my jammies yesterday; I'm learning to slow down abit.

My snow boots were not too far back in my closet. Last year, I couldn't even find them.

This snow won't last.

4 to 7 inches expected today.

My friend had her 5th child over the weekend.

Not a fan of the snow.

I Have Ideas, Yes I Do

Second Oops, it's the first day of February already and I haven't even reviewed 2018. It seems so long ago now. That's how it is when you're almost 60. I say that a lot ... that I'm almost 60. Dang, I've been saying it since I turned 59 last May. Trying to get used to the idea, I suppose.

Today I am writing from a prompt over at Mama's Losin' It, A List of 11 Ideas to Make This Year My Best Year Ever

Turn Off the Social Media This has been a struggle for a long time. I am as addicted to scrolling FB as I am to Oreo cookies.
Slow down I've been super angry every morning as I shut the back door to the walk to my car for the trip to work. I am 4 months away from retiring and I have been wishing my time away.
Make today count My watchword for 2019 is embrace.
Really pay attention to my dogs This has been on my mind a lot lately. I can't wait to spend more time throwing the ball and loving on my babies.
Plan a road trip with a friend We're going to take a road trip to Denver some time this summer.
Read more I joined a book club and so far I've enjoyed engaging with like-minded women.
Write more It's a good idea. I've been feeling kind of blank lately.
Minimize my household This has been an ongoing process that I will continue.
Spend quality time with quality friends This is on my mind a lot. Quality. When I have less time to waste, this gets really important.
Read more blogs and leave comments I long for the day when I have time to read my favorite blogs and engage with the writers.
Eat well This is a constant battle lately. I think stress has gotten the best of me. Not a good excuse for eating poorly. I love taking my lunch to the park. I can't wait to have time to just sit and watch the squirrels and not have to watch the clock.

11 Questions for You:
How about you, do you have ideas for making 2019 your best year ever?
Do you have a favorite blog you should tell me about?
What is your favorite podcast?
Do you take Sunday drives?
How do you slow down?
Do you spend too much time on FB?
What are you reading right now?
Do you have quality friends, and how do you spend your time with them?
Is your diet healthy?
Do you write ... letters, blog, journal?
How do you make your day count?

Tell me!
love, susan