My Tireless Retirement - Week 205

 

Good morning my friends!  Another week in retirement is in the books and I’m happy to report it was a pretty darn good one.  I have the best circle of friends and loved ones and for that I am truly, truly grateful.  To lend a bit more context as to why I am hesitant to leave my part-time job I have “work kids” now that I absolutely love and it would be difficult to leave them behind.  It was totally unexpected that I would have this opportunity to mentor and advise, offer moral support or simply just listen to my younger co-workers and it has been such a blessing.  One of them even calls me “Mama”.  While I am filling a need for them they are also filling one for me.

 

I worked Friday (the one day of the week the toxic one does not) and took a group of seniors out to lunch at a local restaurant in the next town over, which was fun.  After returning I had the rest of the day off along with the weekend.  Admittedly, I had zero motivation to do much of anything over the weekend so for the most part I didn’t.  Laundry and dishes got done as well as the vacuuming.  I called that a win!

The weeds are abundant this year!

Due to the warmer weather this winter the weeds have been growing like crazy.  I was able to get outside and pull up a bucket full and feed them to the chickens.  They were super excited for some freshly harvested greens.  I don’t complain about the weeds when it means FREE chicken food.  The rain over the weekend makes them easy to pull too.

 

I was back at work all day Monday, a half day Tuesday afternoon.  Monday I arrived at work planning to update HR and serve my resignation, it had become that bad, however my manager intercepted me on the way to the scanner and we had a tearful discussion in the printer room.  I agreed to hold off and before I knew it I was being approached by the toxic one and a change in her attitude complete with apologies and ownership of her behavior.  We are now taking it one day at a time with the agreement that I am to call her out whenever she starts her toxic behavior up again, which I expect she will.  We are two for two as far as good days, but I remain cautiously optimistic.  It’s a start.  We shall see. 

I got some seeds started

I was off Wednesday and Thursday.  Wednesday I did a little meal prep, some home administrative tasks like shredding paper and paying bills, as well as some writing as I stayed inside and hunkered down while the rain poured.  Time spent in my kitchen always makes me happy, especially when I make something fabulous, which I did.  Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and streamed broccoli.  I will be sure to share the recipe soon.

So good!

Stella is sitting a little too close to the TV

 

On Thursday it was cloudy and chilly so I puttered around the house tidying up this and that, emptying trash and the recycling collection bin I keep in the garage, watched some TV and relaxed with my kitties.  I did some financial planning and got busy planning my next get together with friends.  I’d say it was a pretty darn good week!