June 30, 2013

"Sunday Morning Coming Down"

Well, I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt.
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad,
So I had one more for dessert.
Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes
And found my cleanest dirty shirt.
Then I washed my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day.

June 29, 2013

Early morning Laundry and then to the Greenmarket. Lots of cleaning to do this weekend.

June 28, 2013

Finally received my tax refund. Had to send it in manually because the death of my wife prevented E-Filing. They took their time and adjusted my return. A $40 increase. It wasn't worth the wait but I'll take it. Will spend a little, then use the rest to pay down a bill.

June 27, 2013

Sometimes I worry about my two boys and how they will make out. I want them to be more independent. It really comes down to faith. They are both intelligent and good people. Overall, I have faith in them.

June 26, 2013

I have become an early riser. I now tend to wake up with the sun.It gives me time to review all the papers before going to work. I do have to be aware of what is being reported and how it is being reported. I have the NY Daily News delivered and I usually pick up The Post. I used to get the New York Times but I now use the digital subscription along with an annual Crossword subscription. It is a nice quiet time which I use to also do my finances and blog reads and postings.

June 25, 2013

Going to take a half-day today. Upgrading my Cable System. I already spend too much on it and I thought my package plan was expiring but it wasn't. It just so happens while doing that I noticed a new package. The new package gives me more for less. It includes an extra premium channel, faster internet, a whole house DVR and a cheaper monthly rate. A technician must install the new DVR. My wife would have been proud of me.

June 24, 2013

Retirement, been thinking about it a lot. Of course, planning goes into it. I will not stop working, just be doing something else. I need to challenge myself and try something new. I have an opportunity that others may not have, an ability to open up my own business. If it doesn't work out, I'll be covered. If it takes off, well , I don't think I will be working as hard as I do now. Target date: June 2014.

June 23, 2013

I like going to the Beach. The sounds, the smell and the feel of the sand all cheered me up. She didn't like to go primarily because of the sand and she didn't swim, so we didn't go.  I usually went with the boys when they were young. We would go to Jones Beach early and get home at about one p.m. I think I will do that sometime this Summer.

June 22, 2013

Going to try and enjoy myself this Summer. We are only given so many, each one at this time can't be wasted.


 

Now to the Laundry, It's wash day.

June 21, 2013

"Sumer Is Icumen In," first day of Summer. Playing lots of Summer songs and The Beach Boys. I know I have a finite number of Summers left, always knew that but it has been brought to my consciousness big-time lately. I will try to make the best of this one. Restaurant Week coming up. Golf Trip, visit to Woodstock site and the second Shakespeare in the Park production are on the list of things to do.

June 20, 2013

My money just came in. Funny, I am in great financial shape but when married it was sort of paycheck to paycheck and loans to meet the little emergencies that came up. Now, it is not a problem but without her, I don't feel like spending it on stuff like trips or other things. I did upgrade my wardrobe, bought a new car and electronics but that's it. With each month, my money situation just improves, especially with loans ending. Paying down debt is my focus right now.

June 19, 2013

I need to jump start my daily existence. I feel like I'm in a rut. A decent , liveable, comfortable rut but a rut nonetheless.

June 18, 2013

Focus, got to try and focus, At work,  at home and at life.

June 17, 2013

Rough Father's Day, but it was eased by a lot of good wishes and thoughts. My youngest gave me a tie,a Bob Marley Mug and a Doors T-Shirt. My daughter gave me a Barnes and Noble Gift Card which I used to buy What Do Women Want? by Daniel Bergner. Some fascinating stuff was previously in the NYT Magazine. My oldest told me he would take me out for dinner. I celebrated as usual and kept busy with me new computer, setting things up and transferring files.

June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day ! Will be making Bloody Marys, eat Godiva Liqueur Truffles and get breakfast to go. Boston Market has a Father's Day BOGO, so it's four meals for the price of two. Trying to keep the tradition alive.

June 15, 2013

Laundry Day, staring early, will be done early. Also my day to drop off and pick up shirts from the Dry Cleaner. I had always brought my work shirts there. They do a better job and I don't have to iron.

June 14. 2013

Happy Flag Day ! Father's Day coming this Sunday. It was never a big celebration, just a day to relax. I will have , as usual, Mimosas, Godiva and Egg Sandwiches. I bought myself a present already: two cookbooks on Grilling.

June 13, 2013

Going out tonight for a retirement thing. Just guys, a Steak place and hopefully good wine.

Worked with the guy for over 27 years, he is packing it in. His wife battled Breast Cancer for over ten years but it finally took her. She died over fifteen years ago. My friend wants to enjoy this Summer, be with his Grand-kids and current girlfriend.

Don't know when I will retire, I'm thinking but it is scary. Takes you out of a comfort zone. Sometimes you need that, but scary nonetheless.

June 12, 2013

I don't think I am going anywhere this Summer except for my Golf trip and a few day trips. Staycation. I can afford to go anywhere but I just don't have the desire to do anything at the moment. I know how to travel alone from a old job. It takes a little getting used to, but it's doable.

June 11, 2013

The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind :

Monday morning feels so bad
Everybody seems to nag me
Comin' Tuesday I'll feel better
Even my old man looks good
Wednesday just won't go
Thursday goes too slow
I've got Friday on my mind

June 10, 2013

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time. A schedule is a mock-up of reason and order—willed, faked, and so brought into being; it is a peace and a haven set into the wreck of time; it is a lifeboat on which you find yourself, decades later, still living. Each day is the same, so you remember the series afterward as a blurred and powerful pattern.

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

June 9, 2013

I must be really bored. Last night I watched Caddyshack on Demand. Still love the Dalai Lama story.

June 8, 2013

Today will be my 11th Big Apple BBQ visit. We always had a blast at this event and I intend to do the same today. Will miss not having her with me but I know she will be with me in spirit. Big Ed Mitchell above posed for pictures with her. He is from her Father's home town. His booth will be my first stop.

June 7, 2013

At times, it feels like I am sleepwalking through life. I get up, go to work, go home and watch TV. I cook and I clean and I don't have the desire to do anything else. I am reading less and my attention span is much more limited. I can still function effectively at work based on my experience and I can still get things done. I figure this too will pass. I guess I have to start forcing myself to do things. Will be going out tonight to a function and the Big Apple BBQ starts tomorrow.

June 6, 2013

Timing is everything. I had jacked-up my Life Insurance but the payroll deductions hadn't come in. Now they are here coinciding with a raise. So, I don't feel the deductions and I have some more to spare. I was covered before but now with the two boys, I have to think about the unexpected. I'm probably a little over-insured right now but that's OK. As I get older, it will go down.

If I had went first, she would have been taken care of, but now that she is gone I have to shift my planning. She would have been the beneficiary. The boys are in a different position and the Life Insurance makes up for what they wouldn't get, i.e.: pension and Social Security.

I thought about raising my 401K contributions but for now I am going with paying down Debt. I think that will be better in the long run. I can see that paying down is working and I will be accelerating it even more. I expect a Retro check soon and I will use part of it for the pay-down. Of course, I will spend some of it. So far, planning on getting new Golf Clubs, a new desktop computer and some new Summer Suits.

June 5, 2013

My boys are going on trips this month. The oldest is going to South Beach Miami and the youngest is going to LA. Hope they enjoy themselves. I gave them both a little cash and I went to the travel sections of CVS and Duane Reade and bought the travel size odds and ends one can use. Before marriage, I had a job that required a lot of travel and having some extras always helps i.e. : Band-aids, sun-block, Advil, Tylenol, and Gold Bond powder.

June 4, 2013

I only play Golf once a year. Used to play a lot when I was younger but when kids came I couldn't get the time. This year I will buy new Ping clubs for my annual Golf trip. Didn't go last year because she was in bad shape and I couldn't leave her alone. I doubt I will be playing more, but it will be good to finally have good clubs. The set I have is from the Fifties and the new sets are incredible. I will always use my antique putter which has a wooden shaft.


 


I get an inspirational quote every day via E-Mail:

“Sometimes life knocks you on your ass... get up, get up, get up!!! Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

June 3, 2013

Monday Morning inspiration. My life is pretty simple right now. Just need a little more Joy.

June 2, 2013

Not much of a Heat Wave but I had to turn on the AC. She would have turned it on much earlier. I don't feel it as much having grown up without it.

June 1, 2013

Today is Wash Day. I have to say, the Tide Stain Remover is a marvel. Works great and easy to use. I've turned into the Wash Beast: scrounging quarters, folding, and doing two loads a week like clockwork.