Happy 65th Birthday to Me!

June 1st was my birthday, a milestone for me. I feel honored to achieve 65. My sister Carla didn't get to see 65, neither did my mom or my cousin Adonica. Regina treated me, Ron and Chris to dinner at Stonecliff, my favorite restaurant! I had a great time. It was nice to get out after our two plus month of stay-at-home COVID19 lockdown. Sooooo .  . not everyone shares my sentiment with milestone birthdays! It's a little surprising but it is what it is. The important thing was that I spent my birthday with people I love.

Two Years

 Two years ago I walked out the doors on the 17th floor and never looked back. I was filled with so much anger at how I had been treated. I have gone over and over in my head how I could have better handled the situation I was in and I could have handled it better - but I'm really not sure it would have changed anything. My boss was a dick. I could have sought legal counsel but I don't know if the stress and expense would have been worth it. Maybe but I don't have time for shoulda coulda. It is what it is.

I do miss the coworkers that were my friends. I do not miss the two bitches that fabricated the bullshit that my boss chose to believe. That's another story kids!

 

So much has happened in two years. I was thinking of where the world is at now and all the things that have happened. I'm probably better off being retired than if I had followed my original plan and delayed retirement as long as I could have (maybe 70?). Today I wanted to call my sister Carla and have a nice long chat with her. How crazy life has turned out and what the fuck? But all I ended up was crying. I miss her so much. What will life be like this time next year?

Life Goes On

Amid all the current events, our two kittens continue to thrive and I'm so in love with them! Despite BillyBob's health challenges (URI and possible asthma), he seems to be doing well. Oscar? He's my little pumpkin loaf.

This photo is actually from the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. But it is a sight that is common today with the COVID 19 pandemic. Knock on wood, we are healthy but then we are retired, so the stay-at-home edict isn't all that much different from our day to day routine.

Meanwhile . . . Regina was laid off from Precision Castparts. Maybe a good time to retire? She has the opportunity to adopt a year-old Labradoodle named Sunni. However Rhetta is less than enthused about her new little sister. Oh well, life goes on . . .

Cats Rule . . . again

We've opened our house and hearts up to two kittens! Meet Billy Bob T. and Oscar. We adopted them on Friday, March 13. In the past five days, they have managed to turn our house upside down and we have totally fallen in love with them. They are more entertaining (and fun) than watching TV. Especially since most of the news is so depressing lately with coronavirus and the economy tanking. Aw hell, everything is closed down so what else are we going to do but watch two kittens wrestling and playing with anything not nailed down in our house? And we bought a van to haul our little family around in!

Stay healthy. Life is short, find something that makes you happy, makes you laugh and someone to love. Remember, as far as the economy and the damn coronavirus, this too shall pass.

February Happy Birthdays

February was the month for celebrating birthdays. Regina and I traveled to Benicia weekend of February 14-16 to party with our brother-in-law Gene and niece, nephew and families. Gene turned 70! (top photo). Then on Monday February 17 we celebrated Jan's 69th birthday. (bottom photo). Great month to be celebrating birthdays. 💘

My sister (and BFF) Regina and I went to Las Vegas in October for a Phil Collins concert. We had a great time, concert was good, and the weather offered the last bit of summer for us. We stayed at MGM Grand and I discovered "The Lazy River" - so much fun. We have to do this again soon!

Life is short and there are no guarantees

Yesterday we found out our neighbor and good friend, Brenda, had been killed in a car accident less than five miles away on Friday. It has been surreal to think we won’t see her working in the yard with her dog LittleBit, won’t hear her yelling at LittleBit to “shut-up!” – always made us chuckle. Won’t be the lucky recipients of her beautiful flower arrangements or the lovely Christmas wreaths she used to make for us. I have a nursing log she made for me for my birthday last year. It’s got various plants and succulents growing on it with rocks she collected when she was a truck driver. Brenda had a big heart and was always helping people out. I remember last summer when she rode her mowing lawnmower over to our house with LittleBit. She had a cooler with a six-pack of beer and we sat in our backyard enjoying a cold beer and laughing at LittleBit’s antics. The last time I saw Brenda, was just a few evenings ago when I was on the front deck reading. She yelled over to me “Hi Kimberly”. I’ll miss Brenda.