I have a new achievement! Blog's Birthday
We're together for 21 years now! Thank you!
Viva la Independencia
These days, I only update my blog every few years. Blogging isn't what it used to be now that vlogs and short posts are what they are. TicTok and Insta rule. I mostly use these as "time passing" reminders.
My mother died June 2023. My mother and I weren't particularly close toward the end of her life. I was never close to her 2nd husband and his family — his children (older than me) are not people I want much to do with. My mom died at 68 yo. Way too young, IMO. Stupidly young. We were not close, though I loved her. Throughout my life, I knew we were very different people. All the things, basically, but she was my mom and I loved her no matter what. I have one parent left, my dad, who is 75 yo.
EP's mom died about one year later on the 4th of July, 2024 just a couple weeks shy of her 95th birthday. Viva la Independencia. I hope she is in heaven, as she believed (Catholic), with EP's dad, who died May 2018. I hope all her afterlife beliefs come true. She deserves everything — she was such as good person and a wonderful mother-in-law — never the stereotype.
She did require a lot of care and financial assistance these past several years. EP and I are very conscientious about such things. We would never have let our parents' lack of planning for retirement hurt them, but, at the same time, it has been difficult to make up for their lack of planning while still trying to plan our own lives, especially having to do all of this in our 30s and 40s.
Either way, EP and I are free of elder care (financial and otherwise) for the first time in more than 21 years. I am happy to be "childfree," no matter how terrible that sounds. Monthly/daily care is incredibly expensive and time-consuming and such a tremendous emotional/mental weight.
I have an (incredibly) strict 10-year plan to retirement for me and EP. We have two adorable Boston Terriers, ages 8 and almost 5. These will be our last two pets for the foreseeable future. Our house will be paid off within 10 years. We have no other debt. At 58/60 we will have maximized our retirement benefits, etc. with Arizona and have no reason to stay in the USA (or anywhere that does not maximize our resources). Essentially, we will be free to roam, or stay put. All the options.
We both love traveling. I am heavily looking into France at this point. We'll see what another decade brings.
Let's celebrate! My blog is 19 years old
Let's celebrate! My blog is 18 years old
Let's celebrate! My blog is 17 years old
Time does not pass, it continues. ~ Marty Rubin
2020. Hard to imagine. So much, and so little, has happened in the last four years.
In 2016, I broached the subject of selling our house to EP. His parents' health and mobility were steadily declining, we were having to spend more time going over to help out with basic necessities, and, frankly, the caregiver assistant fees were hurting. I suggested that we could purchase another house with a guesthouse that would be suitable for his parents (and future rental income), we wouldn't have to pay for a caregiver, and we could move closer to downtown as we both work there. He agreed, and preparation began in 2017.
EP and I had a fairly stringent list of things we needed or wanted for a new house — we weren't moving because we disliked our current home or area, so to make it worth all the effort, we wanted some very specific things, but overall, it was the guesthouse that was the determining factor.
We searched for about six months and finally spotted our house on Zillow — but it already had an accepted offer! We were so bummed out. Our Realtor contacted the sellers Realtor and, by stupid luck and happenstance, the offer had fallen through that day. We made a viewing appointment immediately for the following day and placed our offer after the walk-through. In June 2017, we moved into our "new" home in the Willo historic district downtown. We love it! The house was built in 1936, still has much of its historic characteristics, and ticked most of our "needs-to-have" boxes.
( Collapse )Time flies never to be recalled. ~ Virgil
Goodness, it's been almost four years. Changes...
Winston was with us for almost two years before passing. We adopted a Boston Terrier puppy in April, Otto Pilot. He and Ava love to play and go to doggie daycare twice a week for fun.
My uncle Terry died this year.
EP and I have slimmed down and gotten fit over the past two years.
Vacationed in Jamaica for two weeks in Dec 2015. Excellent vacation destination and best month ever to go on vacation. Avoid all the holiday nonsense. Planning to visit the Oregon coast this year - hopefully we'll experience some weather while there; we get so little here.
Can't believe all this Trump ridiculousness with the presidential election. He's so revolting.
Otherwise, still puttering along...
Winston was with us for almost two years before passing. We adopted a Boston Terrier puppy in April, Otto Pilot. He and Ava love to play and go to doggie daycare twice a week for fun.
My uncle Terry died this year.
EP and I have slimmed down and gotten fit over the past two years.
Vacationed in Jamaica for two weeks in Dec 2015. Excellent vacation destination and best month ever to go on vacation. Avoid all the holiday nonsense. Planning to visit the Oregon coast this year - hopefully we'll experience some weather while there; we get so little here.
Can't believe all this Trump ridiculousness with the presidential election. He's so revolting.
Otherwise, still puttering along...
The more things you own, the more things own you.
Over the past several years, I've become increasingly obsessed (in my head) with de-cluttering life. Especially as it relates to possessions. EP and I have been in our house for 10+ years now, and with just the two of us rambling around in here, stuff has accumulated. Lots of stuff. Junk in my opinion, necessities in his.
Some days I walk into this house and I feel weighed down; the clutter is mentally oppressive. EP argues that the house looks fine and it's just my neurosis, and yes, the house does look fine. Most people probably wouldn't even notice all the clutter. But I know it's there in drawers and on shelves and in closets and in the garage and it is maddening. I can't stand not knowing where to find something and there are times now I don't even look because the search is too much. I don't begin new projects because there are just too many things in the way. It makes my pissy and I don't like being that person.
I'm not trying to get rid of everything, of course. While EP and I have differing philosophies when it comes to attaching sentimental feelings to objects - I don't, he does - I respect that it's his home too. I grew up in a tchotchke-ridden house and it is not for me. If I ever again have to dust a brass crab or a porcelain figurine of a wizened man whittling who-knows-what I may curl up and die. I like clean surfaces, empty space, and nothing to dust - almost to the point of starkness. I am rarely nostalgic. The past is not something I hang onto; there's rarely a point to it beyond obligation. I don't want to live looking behind; I want my focus always forward. What do I need that's been left behind? EP, conversely, likes a "homey" space and nostalgia is a well-known, and welcome, friend.
So, I sort of promised myself to clean up and out this year. To begin, I researched and purchased an Elfa closet system for our bedroom closet. Awesome! Then EP and I deconstructed our bedroom, cleaned everything, oiled furniture and put it back together. EP still has a boatload of t-shirts to go through, but there's progress made. Everything unnecessary was either trashed or donated. This weekend we tackled the master bathroom and again, we trashed a lot of junk and cleaned everything. This afternoon I am going to finish a few minor painting projects in those two rooms and it's done.
The goal is to tackle a space every other weekend until the whole house is done. There are twelve spaces in this house. Two are finished.
We've also set destruction dates for items. For instance, EP's mother keeps giving EP magazines to read that she has collected from various friends. EP doesn't read these magazines; I don't know why he takes them. He just stacks them in my living room to collect dust. I cannot use my dining room table or sit in my chairs because of these ridiculous magazines. In January I gave him three months to either read and discard the magazines himself or on Mar 1, they are destined for the recycle bin - no whining or protestations allowed. You don't have to be Nostradamus to predict this outcome.
My resolution is also bleeding over to social media. Overcommunication is a problem. I've begun asking myself "does anyone need to know this?" to which the answer is most often no, and, frankly, I've little interest in what others are posting. Too little wit and too much of life's minutia. We may put our pants on one leg at a time, but no one needs to read about it.
I feel better already.
The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have the more free you are. ~ Mother Teresa
Some days I walk into this house and I feel weighed down; the clutter is mentally oppressive. EP argues that the house looks fine and it's just my neurosis, and yes, the house does look fine. Most people probably wouldn't even notice all the clutter. But I know it's there in drawers and on shelves and in closets and in the garage and it is maddening. I can't stand not knowing where to find something and there are times now I don't even look because the search is too much. I don't begin new projects because there are just too many things in the way. It makes my pissy and I don't like being that person.
I'm not trying to get rid of everything, of course. While EP and I have differing philosophies when it comes to attaching sentimental feelings to objects - I don't, he does - I respect that it's his home too. I grew up in a tchotchke-ridden house and it is not for me. If I ever again have to dust a brass crab or a porcelain figurine of a wizened man whittling who-knows-what I may curl up and die. I like clean surfaces, empty space, and nothing to dust - almost to the point of starkness. I am rarely nostalgic. The past is not something I hang onto; there's rarely a point to it beyond obligation. I don't want to live looking behind; I want my focus always forward. What do I need that's been left behind? EP, conversely, likes a "homey" space and nostalgia is a well-known, and welcome, friend.
So, I sort of promised myself to clean up and out this year. To begin, I researched and purchased an Elfa closet system for our bedroom closet. Awesome! Then EP and I deconstructed our bedroom, cleaned everything, oiled furniture and put it back together. EP still has a boatload of t-shirts to go through, but there's progress made. Everything unnecessary was either trashed or donated. This weekend we tackled the master bathroom and again, we trashed a lot of junk and cleaned everything. This afternoon I am going to finish a few minor painting projects in those two rooms and it's done.
The goal is to tackle a space every other weekend until the whole house is done. There are twelve spaces in this house. Two are finished.
We've also set destruction dates for items. For instance, EP's mother keeps giving EP magazines to read that she has collected from various friends. EP doesn't read these magazines; I don't know why he takes them. He just stacks them in my living room to collect dust. I cannot use my dining room table or sit in my chairs because of these ridiculous magazines. In January I gave him three months to either read and discard the magazines himself or on Mar 1, they are destined for the recycle bin - no whining or protestations allowed. You don't have to be Nostradamus to predict this outcome.
My resolution is also bleeding over to social media. Overcommunication is a problem. I've begun asking myself "does anyone need to know this?" to which the answer is most often no, and, frankly, I've little interest in what others are posting. Too little wit and too much of life's minutia. We may put our pants on one leg at a time, but no one needs to read about it.
I feel better already.
The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have the more free you are. ~ Mother Teresa
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It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Had a dream last night that the house was full of scorpions living under all the accumulated paraphenalia, bins and boxes that are spread throughout. So, today we've been cleaning this place out. The bug guy (pest control) was scheduled to spray today, which usually means housecleaning day anyway. EP didn't believe me when I woke up and told him the task schedule. He believes me now.
Windows are clean; mirrors, photographs and art have been cleaned; house has been vacuumed; bins and boxes have been sorted or removed to the garage; bathrooms are clean and drawers have been organized; office has been cleaned out; living room has been organized; the list goes on. It's by no means perfect, but it is better. The garage is the final frontier where we are moving things that don't belong in the house... and I'm fairly determined to actually get it cleaned out this coming year so both vehicles may be parked inside.
Have way too much stuff for two people and two dogs. It's ridiculous.
It's been very cool today, in the 60s F. All the doors and windows are open to air the place out.
October and November have been busy with getting finances in order... refinancing the houses to take advantage of lower interest rates, and organizing our monthly expenses to save money. It's rather amazing how bills increase over several years when you aren't looking. I was able to re-organize several bills so that we are paying less money, but still getting the same or better service. Our alarm monitoring service now provides radio cell service so I can disconnect the land-line, which will save us over $400 each year. Next on my list is DirecTV and car/house/life insurance.
I think, though, that the real reason I'm feeling like taking on house projects is that EP is finally settling into his new job with MCAO and happy with it. Seriously, the stress that a bad work environment causes really just isn't worth it. Hindsight shows that very clearly.
My own job has been overwhelming at times lately. So much to do that I never seem to get ahead. I delegate as much as possible, but there are lots of tasks and projects that I have to do personally. Thankfully, I really enjoy my job, but sometimes it's just exhausting.
Mundane post, but there you have it.
Oh, and President Obama won a second term and there were four pro-equality ballot victories. Awesome!
Windows are clean; mirrors, photographs and art have been cleaned; house has been vacuumed; bins and boxes have been sorted or removed to the garage; bathrooms are clean and drawers have been organized; office has been cleaned out; living room has been organized; the list goes on. It's by no means perfect, but it is better. The garage is the final frontier where we are moving things that don't belong in the house... and I'm fairly determined to actually get it cleaned out this coming year so both vehicles may be parked inside.
Have way too much stuff for two people and two dogs. It's ridiculous.
It's been very cool today, in the 60s F. All the doors and windows are open to air the place out.
October and November have been busy with getting finances in order... refinancing the houses to take advantage of lower interest rates, and organizing our monthly expenses to save money. It's rather amazing how bills increase over several years when you aren't looking. I was able to re-organize several bills so that we are paying less money, but still getting the same or better service. Our alarm monitoring service now provides radio cell service so I can disconnect the land-line, which will save us over $400 each year. Next on my list is DirecTV and car/house/life insurance.
I think, though, that the real reason I'm feeling like taking on house projects is that EP is finally settling into his new job with MCAO and happy with it. Seriously, the stress that a bad work environment causes really just isn't worth it. Hindsight shows that very clearly.
My own job has been overwhelming at times lately. So much to do that I never seem to get ahead. I delegate as much as possible, but there are lots of tasks and projects that I have to do personally. Thankfully, I really enjoy my job, but sometimes it's just exhausting.
Mundane post, but there you have it.
Oh, and President Obama won a second term and there were four pro-equality ballot victories. Awesome!
Dogs are miracles with paws.
Since it's been forever and a day since I've posted...
In January 2012, we adopted Winston. He is a 12 year old Boston Terrier that was surrendered by his former owner due to extended travel. Winston is a bit quirky (barks at his food bowl...even though there's food in it), loves liver, and is a total sweetie. He was 23 lbs. when we got him and he's up to 27 lbs. now. He's looking really good and we're very happy to have him.
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hungry
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