RNY Gastric Bypass

I’m on my very last diet. After much thought and consultation, I have had the RNY Gastric bypass. That was in January and as of now I’m down 61 pounds.  10 are from dieting the year before while making the decision, 10 are from the liquid diet just before the surgery and the rest is from steady loss since then. I wish I’d done it years ago.  As it is my 61year old body loses slower than the younger people who have had it done but I feel great. Slow and steady.

It’s easier to move. Get up and down stairs, sleep, walk, exercise, travel, breathe, get in and out of the car.  My skin is not snapping back but then I expected that. I still have a lot more to go and I’m happy in the journey.

Hi Susan!

A hello to my cousin Susan who faithfully reads my blog.  My apologies for not updating in almost a year.  

I have been retired yet not settled into a life of happy healthy retirement due to my husband's cancer (which is gone!) and my Dad's (which is also gone), and a number of other bothers that came with arduous tasks not yet completed.  I did have a fun holiday in California with my sisters and my cousins and Aunt for a great wedding.  

Over the next few months, we will likely be moving house and I will probably retire this Blog for another I've been working on. It will be called the Happy and Healthy Retiree.  And that is what I hope to be.  I'm not too healthy right now as I've gained a lot of weight so I'm not too happy.  My older sister has retired and has a better attitude than me so I'm hoping it will rub off!  I'm not quite ready to kiss this blog goodbye but once the other is up and running, I probably will!  

Thanks and love to Susan for being a faithful reader. xo

Retired again!

I was sitting in my work cube the last week of August.  I had just received a 2 page document from my boss which I had written and to which he had added 2 pages of useless comments.  2 pages.  The room started to spin and I felt sick.  Sick that this micro-managing tool was making me feel like crap.  So I smiled, fixed what he wanted and the next document I wrote was a resignation letter.  I'm lucky in that I had that option.  I can retire.  We have the economic means to do so.  The lifestyle will be changed somewhat if we stay in our house, but it could be done.  And I did it.

I liked where I worked and I liked the work I did.  I was investigating again and helping people, but I missed my free time.  I was well-liked there and they even gave me a party when I left.  With cake!  So I have left the corporate world and I won't be going back unless something spectacular comes along.

There is a dark cloud on my horizon though as my dear Pat has been diagnosed with a medium prostate cancer.  This means that it is medium aggressive and needs to be removed and soon.  So it's a good thing I'm home as he will be out of commission for 4 to 6 weeks and will need looking after.  The prognosis is very good so I'm not too worried, just concerned that he is going to be uncomfortable and hurting while he recovers.

Any plans to sell our house and move are on hold for the time being.  At least until he Pat is strong enough to help me with painting and purging.  I love my house and it has enough room for all my crafty ideas but if we downsize to a condo, things will be different.  My metal-smithing will have to go as I can't imagine soldering and hammering in a condo.

I am happy and content.

Since March!

I know, I know, it's been months since I have written anything.  No excuse other than l just didn't feel like it.

My sisters are away and I miss them terribly.  I'm counting the days til they are back.

I am enjoying this cool summer, I might actually go outside.

I'm waffling on retiring again.  I like the money from working but I don't think I like working anymore. I haven't made a doll in a long time and I miss it.  I like the idea of being able to take off at a moments notice with my husband and do what we want.  If we lived in a condo, we could just shut the door and go.  One day soon.

Ear Monsters

I see stories in the news from time to time about people who have been profoundly deaf and are hearing the voice of a loved one for the first time. Heart warming but now that my Dad is finally hearing again after being 90% deaf in one ear and 100% in the other for about 15 years, I wonder if it as overwhelming for the profoundly deaf as it has been for my Dad. He was missing so much in conversation that we finally convinced him to get hearing aids.  He has had them now for almost a week and he's not loving it.  He can hear himself drink coffee and his hair underneath his hat.  I tell him that we can can hear these things too but we learn to tune it out.   He no longer needs the TV at top volume and we don't have to shout, but he gets anxious when there are a lot of competing noises.  When it gets too much i.e.  if someone is talking too much or being too loud, he takes the hearing aids out.

I know he will get used to it eventually.  He said the thing he has missed the most is the sound of rushing water...  So, as soon as the snow and ice melt, he will go to the local conservation area to hear the water rushing over the rocks.  

We take our hearing for granted sometimes. And while my Dad is getting used to hearing again, I know he is enjoying hearing his great grandson laugh.

Weather Rage!

It's the first week of March and it is so cold outside that my eyes froze after a short walk.  The sun was shining so I thought I'd take advantage of it with a wee stroll for some fresh air... and it was too painful to go more than a few blocks despite being bundled up.  

I like my job but I don't want to walk to the bus tomorrow. I'm tired of my nostrils sticking together and my glasses fogging up.  We've been told there is relief on the way, and right now I'd settle for -10!

I got home from work feeling really angry with no clear reason. There is nothing bothering me except this unrelenting winter.  So I figured it out.  I have weather rage.   If I wasn't working, I'd be driving south right now.  Right now.

Itchy

A few days after I posted my January 1 optimism piece, I noticed an itchy spot on my shin. In roughly the same spot as a big bruise I got in the summer from a fall.   The spot grew with alarming speed and was eventually, after being seen by 5 doctors (first two thought infection, third and fourth on the right track and sent me to a dermatologist.   Within 9 days it spread over most of my body. The only spot to escape so far, is my face.  Small mercies.

I still don't have a diagnosis but I suspect a type of eczema. I used to get it every winter as a kid. This rapid and widespread is, I believe, called an "Id Reaction."  The original spot on my leg now takes up most of my shin but with greasy coatings of steroid ointment I am healing. So...I wasn't feeling up to posting.

Managing Expectations & Happy New Year 2014

I was ready to retire again last week.  I was a bit discouraged because I felt like I hadn't set the world on fire at the new job right away.   I had to step back and realise I wasn't working for the same company.  Success will come again.  I can be patient. 

With my husband retired now, the temptation to pack it in is strong.  Especially when we start talking about travel.  Then I realised time off and travel will come again.  I can be patient.

During my 20 months off, I didn't get as fit as I wanted.  More walking, less chocolate is the solution.   I will be healthier again.   I can be patient.

I make New Year resolutions.  I don't often stick to them but this year I'm going to resolve only to be kinder to myself.  That should be easy to do and in so doing, the rest should fall into place again.  I will be patient.  

9 to 5

I've spent the last 10 working days crammed in a very hot meeting room with 8 strangers.  And loving it!  I've been training for my new job.  It's similar to the last one in that I'll be investigating possible financial shenanigans, but with a somewhat different focus.

I have found myself on the much despised subway with a smile on my face.  Going home is another matter because during training, I had to work 9 to 5 and the subway is so crowded around 5 that it is most unpleasant.  As I get to work early regardless of my starting time, the morning trip is pretty good.  This coming week, I will have switched to my regular hours of 8 to 4 so the subway will be a bit less crowded.

I'm looking forward to this continuation of my career.  The company is smaller and inclusive.  Lots of women and different cultures.  No offices, everyone including the boss are in cubes!  My adventure continues.

Not So Retired After All...

It appears I'm going back to work...at least for a year.  They came to me which feels kinda good.  Although I was ready to accept retirement, I would have preferred to work until I was ready to leave rather than being laid off.  This feels like redemption to me and I'm happy. Plus it means we can hold off on plans to move away from the city or to a condo.

I have been sitting on this possibility for 7 loooong weeks so I'm glad it's settled and I know what I'm doing, at least for the next year.  If it only lasts a year, that's ok, if it is longer, that's ok too.  

I have been packing in the travel for the past while in case I got the job as there would not be as much opportunity after I start.  My sister and I drove down to DisneyWorld and back which was an adventure in itself.  It was a bit tiring and it is unlikely we will do that again.  Then I went to meet a friend in Chicago which was great fun.  Then I went to Disney again with the husband, also great fun. 

I'm ready to go back to work.  I missed being downtown even though I didn't miss riding the subway.

The mayor...why won't he go away?

I'm going to keep this generic but most people will know what I'm talking about...

The mayor of my city...This is not someone I voted for and although I was stunned when he won the election, I always say that because of my own economic situation, it doesn't matter who is elected as me and mine will be ok.  

I am more than simply a taxpayer of my city, province and country.  I am a citizen.  I realise that if I want good roads, decent schools for children, civic infra-stucture, safe neighbourhoods, public transit, healthcare, pensions etc., I have to pay taxes.  These things are not free. I believe in helping out those less fortunate.  This is what separates the citizens from the taxpayers.   

That being said, I now I want this mayor to go away and get some help, for himself and for his wife and children.  He is not up to the job.  He has never been up to the job.  I'm going to go so far as to say that the job is beyond his capabilities.  He can't handle it without at least alcohol and possibly more.  I have read the police report  (400+ pages) and I don't believe the people, who have cooperated with the cops, are all lying when giving similar accounts of incidents described therein.  So, somebody else is lying.  

While we are at it, I would like his brother to go away too.  If he loves his mayor brother - and given his actions I don't think he does - he would get him into rehab.  If his mother loves her mayor son, she would urge him into rehab.  The goal with this family seems to be greater political aspiration for the brother.  God help us all.

Inertia Again

I am suffering from inertia again.  I can't seem to get much done.  I have a nephew who decided he was going to be a hotdog for Hallowe'en.  I have the fabric and the concept in my head for this costume, but it is not getting done.  I should clarify.  I'm not doing nothing as I've been very busy with family and household chores but not much in the creative department.  I think after Canadian Thanksgiving, things will settle down.  

We are reorganising the house a bit.  Cleaning out stuff and tidying up.  80% of the accumulated stuff is mine which I freely admit.  I have to let some of it go.  I went crazy on eBay a few years ago.  I bought stuff like there was no tomorrow.  Now I will probably end up selling some of it back on eBay again!  Full circle.  

I am loving the weather in Toronto right now.  Cool and crisp in the morning which is when I like to walk.  I found a new route with what I will call a "killer hill" about halfway.  It's not really all that steep but it is long and gradual.  It's like having the Walkfit (which of course I want) without having to pay for it, and I'm getting fresh air.

The Selfie and the Selfie Haircut

I had no idea what a "selfie" was until the cringe-worthy one by a certain moustachioed guy was plastered on the internet.  It turns out, I've been taking lots of them which I sometimes post on here.  

One of my latest projects - and my sisters advise me that it is not a good idea - is the do-it-myself haircut.  I have a short pixie that is well-behaved.  I slap some hair goo in, rub it around and I'm ready for public inspection.  I haven't used a hairbrush or comb since 1999!  It was getting longer than I liked but I didn't feel like going downtown so I started snipping off bits that were sticking out here and there.  I used proper haircutting scissors that I bought years ago and I think I did ok!  So here are some "selfies" of my haircut.

Retirement Clothing

I used to think when I retired that I would wear only clothing from Coldwater Creek while I filled my days supporting the arts, or lunching with the ladies.  Of course the reality is far different.  Mostly, its been Land's End.

I was discussing the concept of retirement wear with my sister and we thought a good retirement item would be some sort of vest or smock.   A funky garment that would have lots of big pockets to hold all the stuff you could possibly need.  I decided I would try to construct this garment.  A "utility" vest of sorts.  My first attempt was a disaster.  Ugly beyond comprehension and only good for the joke factor.  I will have to reconstruct it into a shopping bag or something.

I'm looking forward to casual wear.  A couple of weeks ago, I had to venture downtown in a business suit and it was 33 degrees.  I'm not going to miss that.  

I'm not going to be hanging out in stretchy pants the rest of my days, I'll stay presentable.  A happy medium between Coldwater Creek and Land's End with a the Utility Vest to pull it all together.  

Hobbies and Second Careers

I'm  a crafter.  I almost always have some sort of project on the go.  Lately, I've been making dolls and have sold one.  A custom doll.  I've decided the pressure was too great for any more custom dolls as it took me three attempts to get the doll just right.  Paying myself minimum wage, this doll was worth $500.00 but needless to say, I didn't get anywhere near that.

Crafting is a thankless task.  I've gone to church sales and seen beautiful hand-knit socks for $10 a pair.  That's robbery.  I have participated in Craft shows and sales and had people come up to my work (in this case intricate scarves) and scoff at a $30 price tag, which barely paid for the yarn.  They would walk away and say, "I could get my grandmother to make it for free!"  I'd like to know where these generous grannies with nothing but time to make items for demanding grandchildren are hiding.  I know mine would have said, "Make it yourself."

I'm thinking that although most of my items are made at a loss, if I pay myself minimum wage, I can still sell these dolls.  I enjoy making them and if I can recoup my costs while I'm keeping myself creative and occupied, why not?  Once I have enough dolls completed and clothed, I'll probably post them for sale on Etsy.

One of my good friends who is retired from a commercial and fine art career, has recently posted his photography which is stunning.  http://www.redbubble.com/people/bgbcreative/portfolio

Retired

Retired.  There I said it.  I’m retired.  This is a life-phase that I had not expected for about 5 or 6 more years.  After a long and well-respected career in capital market regulation, I was downsized in a re-organization.  Downsized and devastated.  Over the next year, I found that I was too old (55!) and expensive to be hired in my chosen field.  Depression ensued. Despite encouragement from my family and good chums (who are retired) that this was a rare opportunity, I felt like I had somehow failed.  Financially it is viable for me to be retired, but it took a long time for me to accept it.

Which brings me to my closet.  My closet was stuffed with the 46 pairs of shoes, previously mentioned, and lots of business wear.  So stuffed that I could not fit in anything else.  So everything that I wear with regularity was on the floor, dresser, and the strewn over the 4 boxes of office stuff that was also in there.  And as almost everything that I wear is black, it made hunting for specific clothing very frustrating.  The state of my closet suggested I was either optimistic at the prospect of finding a new job or I was depressed and unable to clear the stuff out.  I think it was a combination of both.  

I cleaned out the closet.  I kept two suits and a few things that I thought I might wear again and dispersed the rest hither and yon.  I can now see the back wall of the closet and clothes are hung up instead of on the floor. Yay.

So...I’m sorta kinda ready to accept that I am retired.  At least for now.  I won’t rule out another corporate opportunity if it comes along - although the thought of going downtown daily on the subway again gives me the shivers.  Instead, I’ll concentrate on this next phase of my journey.  I will try to write, make dolls and other crafty things and see how that goes.  It is good that I have this opportunity while I’m still relatively young enough to enjoy it.  I haven’t yet thrown my arms out and embraced it.  But I will, eventually.

Shoes

I've been slowly but surely tidying up our small bedroom.  For the past few years it has been my crap receptacle but for the past 18 months it has been in an unacceptable state.  Not a room I wanted to go in but as it contains my clothes and my escape bed, I couldn't always avoid it.  I'm at the closet cleaning stage as it occurred to me the clothes in the closet were not the clothes being worn (I'll address the reason why in another post).  I was taking out my shoes and it started to get funny then it got ridiculous.  There are 46 pairs in the picture and that is just what was in that closet.  It doesn't include the ones I'm wearing, my wedding shoes, a pair of Mickey Mouse sneakers, some killer green suede pumps and all my winter wear.  The total of my footwear is probably around 57 pairs.   Of these shoes, I could probably immediately cull out only about 5 pairs.  I need to be ruthless and ask myself: how often I wear them;  are they comfortable; are they out of style; do they still fit me; and, do I need them?  It's a challenge.  

I want to get this room in better order so that it is welcoming to me as I'd like to put a writing surface in there.  I'm typing this on a TV table in the living room, not the most comfortable or quiet spot.  

We're Having A Heat Wave...

I hate the heat.  I really do.  That is one of the reasons we chose Newfoundland as a travel destination. I used to go to Alberta in the summer where it was also cool in the mountains or near Edmonton.  I should start doing that again.

With the humidity, it is supposed to feel like 45C today.  That is like 120F.  No thanks.  It's cooler in California!  I have suggested to my Dad that he stay inside but who knows.  I was outside briefly yesterday at 5:00 a.m. for a dash to the 24 hour store for milk and contact lens solution for my spouse, (I swear he waits until there is nothing but vapour inside the bottle before getting refills.) and that was unpleasant.  I haven't been outside today and don't plan on it unless there is an emergency.  We are down to meagre rations so I will have to head out for supplies tomorrow but it will be the 24 hour store and before the sun is up!   We should be get relief by the weekend but I think the weather people are incapable of an accurate forecast.  Enough whining...

I'm keeping busy with doll-making.  I tried to make one that looks like a baby but the legs look too froggy.  I would take it apart as the head is rather nice, but after I make them, they become little personalities to me and I can't do it.  Here he is...no hair yet..or clothes.  

Iceberg!

Here is an iceberg that floated into a little bay in St. Anthony, Newfoundland.  A short walk from our B & B.  My husband & I just returned from a holiday there.  It's lovely.  Wild and desolate in places.  Pretty and quaint in others.   It was also nice and cool which I love.

The vacation was difficult to enjoy though because, like the iceberg which only shows about a 1/3 above water, my Dad kept his health from me and my siblings, until my plane had departed as he didn't want to "spoil my trip."  He had pneumonia and then partial kidney failure from being dehydrated and had to be hospitalised for almost a week!  All so I could have a vacation.  Very selfless of him but I would always choose a live father over any vacation.  Geeze.  He has been told this in no uncertain terms.  I am now staying with him for a week or two until he is back to his independent self.  Geeze again!

Dolls and Nostalgia

I've been keeping busy with more Waldorf-type dolls.  I have now made four and I think maybe one of them (red-headed girl below) is crafted well enough for full price.  It's definitely a learning process.  I just have to construct clothing and little shoes and I'll try them out on Etsy.

Taking a page from my friend Shelley, I have been clearing out some stuff.  Yesterday I filled 5 green garbage bags with clothes for Goodwill and I still haven't touched my main closet.  There are shoes to be donated that I haven't seen or worn in years.   I think I still have my Grade 8 graduation dress somewhere...

I get attached to clothes and not just mine.  I have lots of my Mum's that I don't wear but are so imbued with her that I can't part with them.  I put my hand in her pockets and come out with a safety pin or a wadded tissue, I smell her scarves for a hint of Covergirl foundation and it takes me to her.   

I often re-purpose fabric and clothing.  I was doing it long before there were whole magazines and websites devoted to it.  I like to incorporate bits of favourites in family gifts.  If I turn up that grad dress in my clearing frenzy, I'm going to cut the skirt off (it was a peasant dress circa 1970) and make it into a handbag!