Babydolls 👶👶👶, it’s the first Wednesday of the month, which means it’s time for Currently 09.2021. Once again, I am joining my friend Anne at In Residence for this link-up. In this edition we are sharing what we are currently beginning, ending, loving, picking, and posting. If you missed last month’s Currently post, you can read it, here. These posts are always fun to write. And I hope fun to read!!
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CURRENTLY 09.2021
This is the first blog post on my shiny new laptop. It had become almost impossible to type or do anything else on my old Dell with the monitor blinking constantly. Every keystroke would make the screen flicker. So it was kind of like blogging blindfolded. I much prefer seeing what I am typing. How ’bout you?
MIA for a Minute
It’s been about 2 weeks since my last post. I didn’t intentionally go MIA but the state of the world had me glued to the TV and feeling like anything I might have to say here really didn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. That’s still probably the case. But with the last airlift out of Afghanistan, I felt a little more hopeful, like some of the clouds lifted.
Another blogger I follow wrote a post about being hypersensitive. I’m not sure that is the term she used but she talked about having heightened feelings and reactions to things that don’t bother others as significantly. If that’s hypersensitive, then that’s me. I have trouble letting go of worries, even things that don’t really directly impact me. According to this article on Bustle.com and depending on the weather, I possess as many as 11 of the 11 characteristics of an overly sensitive person.
Anyway, all this to say I’m baaa-aack…for today. So let’s see what I am up to – besides being super sensitive – over here.
Beginning…
Okay, hold onto your hats…I think am beginning to enjoy this retirement gig. I feel like I am finally finding my way. Remember this post I wrote for my friend Leanne about my struggle to figure out where I belong? And the follow up post I wrote here in my own backyard? Can attribute this change of heart to writing both articles combined with some journaling. Have had a couple of really good days just hanging out at home being me and doing things I like to do. All of these things have all helped me realize that I can be content as a retired librarian, empty-nester, part-time blogger and grandmother.
Ending…
I haven’t done it yet…but I think I am going to remove my name from the substitute librarian list in my school district for now. Can always be reinstated but just not feeling it anymore.
The first months of school were always my favorites. In the library, the lessons I taught before Christmas were among the most enjoyable to teach. When several of those library orientation lessons sold recently in the Teachers Pay Teachers store I have with my sister, there was a momentary desire to teach them again myself. Or to write more lessons to sell on TPT. But today I am not even really feeling either. I don’t understand how I can be so conflicted. Feeling one way yesterday and the complete opposite today.
On Monday, I had a call from the school that contacted me the first week of August about subbing in their library. The district finally approved a sub for the position. In the meantime, however, they have accepted applications for the vacancy but rejected all of the applicants and have removed the opening from the district’s vacancy announcement. The school secretary said they would like me to work more or less indefinitely. Two months or more. As much as I would like that money, I am pretty sure I am not interested in working that much.
Made a list of pros and cons for working. And the cons list was longer.
Taking my librarian shingle down. I think that ship has sailed. My career has ended.
Loving…
How beautifully green our desert is right now. We had rain again last night and it was sprinkling a moment ago when I looked out the window. The mountains look as if they have been draped with the most vivid Kelly green velvet. We never have moss growing anywhere under normal circumstances, not even on the northsides of trees. Well, duh. What trees??? But our world looks blanketed by moss right now. It is glorious for a gal who grew up in Tennessee. Who spent 6 years living in the Panamanian rainforest. And whose favorite color is green.
Picking…
This is a tough one. Oh, I know!! I picked my Yahoo fantasy football team on Sunday night. Our league is called the Friends and Family Feud. My team is the Pale Pink Porkbellies. And I am the commish. We have 10 managers/10 other teams in our league, including friends and family members. Even Cady is playing again this year.
My first player drafted was Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. He is supposed to be a powerhouse this year. I have some loyalty to the Bills because I was born in Buffalo. And I have a dear Buffalonian friend, Em, who blogs at Dust and Doghair (love that title).
Posting…
Nothing for two weeks until this post. The first of each month I have more regular blogs like Currently, Sentence a Day, 10 on the 10th and when I can remember, those for my Wellness Journey series. Seem to lose steam toward the end of each month, and start questioning whether blogging is something I really want to do. But with the next shiny new month, I am back again.
HodgePodge
Here are the questions to this week’s Hodgepodge from my friend Joyce at From this Side of the Pond. Hodgepodge is a weekly series going live on Wednesdays but I do well to participate once a month. Joyce’s questions are always so much fun, though, that I would really miss it if I didn’t join in now and then.
A is for Apple
1. As we begin this brand new month tell us, on a scale of 1-10, where does your life fall in terms of being in ‘apple pie order’? Please elaborate. (1=nowhere near it, 10=practically perfect in every way) For all intents and purposes, my life is pretty orderly. I keep our home organized, groceries stocked, clothes clean and ironed, everything in its place and a place for everything. But LIFE has a way of seeping in under the transoms and between the window panes, and causing bits of chaos to my apple pie orderly existence. Covid, sick grandbabies, my daughters’ health issues, Mom, Afghanistan, alarming numbers of immigrants to our city, school shootings. Despite all of that going on in the world around me, I am going to give my life a 7.
Apple a Day
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away…are you doing your part? Red or green? Sweet or tart? Ever played the game Apples to Apples? Do you like apple pie? If so, ala mode or just gimme the pie? Not doing my part on a daily basis. Did have an apple on Sunday with breakfast. Bought more apples…red and green at the commissary yesterday. I prefer my apples tart, firm and GREEN. Never played Apples to Apples. Love apple pie. With ice cream, please. My dad liked a slice of cheddar cheese melted atop his.
Ye Old Apple Cart
3. Tell us about a time recently where you ‘upset the apple cart’ or the last time someone ‘upset your apple cart’? I got nothing. LIFE upsets my apple cart now and then but there’s always Plan B. Our monsoons canceled PC’s ballgame Saturday before last. Covid has turned life upside-down for everyone for too long. Our University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP) dinner theater is putting on a production of “Titanic”. I would love to go while Brennyn is visiting in October but the thought of sitting in a small, confined spot with a bunch of strangers is a little scary.
[source]
3 Little Words
4. What are three words that come to mind when you think of September? First…”back to school.” Then “library orientation lessons.” But since that has ended…see above ^^^…let’s go with “Happy birthday, Daddy!!”
Take Me Away
5. What are you most looking forward to this month? A weekend away with PC. It isn’t even on the calendar yet. The idea is just bouncing around in our pointed little heads. But I am hoping we can get away to the mountains the last weekend of September or the first weekend of October.
Randomness
6. Insert your own random thought here. So, I got my fall decor out. This is my favorite season of the year and I have always gone all out decorating with pumpkins on every flat surface. But as I have shared here before, my tubs and bins of decorations on the shelves in the garage really make PC nuts. Starting with my summer bin, I have been purging decorations. And did so last week with my fall things. The only trouble with season is it is divided into fall and Halloween/dia de los muertos. Which means I have a separate box of those things to purge. Wish me luck.
SUMMER GOALS UPDATE
Finally making some forward progress on my summer goals.
FINISH THE SPRING CLEANING –
downstairs, garage, freezer in the garage, and the storage shed. Finished the kitchen today. And have a good start on the den. Cleaned the garage on Monday. Hope to finish this up by Friday.
WRITE AT LEAST 2 BLOG POSTS ON MY ORIGINAL LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT THEME –
have moved away from my original direction and intent for blogging, time to get back on track. Thankful to Leanne for extending an invitation to me to guest post on her blog. I shared my struggle to recover my sense of belonging since retiring. You can read it, here. Followed that up with a post here on my blog. And hope to continue to share more of my thoughts on this season of life in coming posts.
RUN THE EQUIVALENT OF A MARATHON –
keeping track of how much I run these days, want to run 26.2 miles by summer’s end. I am trying to keep track of what I run on my Sentence a Day entries. According to what I ran in July, I am up to 8.6 miles. Plus 10.1 miles in June. And 9.1 miles in August. Grab your calculators or pull out your fingers and toes…8.6+10.1+9.1 = 27.8 miles. Am I right?? By George, I think I am. Goal accomplished. ✔️
One More Thing
Before we call this a wrap, just want to share the graphic for this month’s 10 on the 10th post. With the 20th anniversary falling on the next day, our theme for 09.10.2021 is 10 thoughts or memories of 9-11. I just finished reading The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff, which is an oral history of that dreadful day. I highly recommend it. Also reading a number of children’s books about 9-11. Thinking they might be comforting. Guess I need to get some book reviews together this month.
Here’s the graphic. Hope you will join me on the 10th.
Your Turn
How would you respond to this month’s prompts? What are your currently beginning, ending, loving, picking, and posting? Would love to hear from you in a comment below. Then maybe you’ll come back to visit for tomorrow’s Thankful Thursday, too?
Hugs and kisses,
leannelc
Hi Leslie – I’m so glad your guest post for me triggered you towards a change of heart and a greater sense of peace with where you are retirement-wise. I know that I thought I’d go back to work after recovering from the last job, but as time went on I realized it was time to take my shingle down and accept that those chapters of my life were behind me – and a new (and much more delightful) chapter was unfolding – I hope you continue to feel the same way xx
Deb
You certainly have much going on in your life at the moment and I think it was a wise decision not to take the extended library work. Although the money would have been nice, it’s just one more added pressure when you have a lot on your mind.
I saw that Marie Kondo has her next series on Netflix and watched an episode yesterday. Spurred me on to tackle a chest of drawers in Rachel’s old bedroom. I figure if she hasn’t needed those things since she last lived here 7 years ago, she probably doesn’t need them now! Now, what can I do with all that extra space? 😉
How can it possibly be the 20th anniversary of the Twin Towers tragedy? It was afternoon here and I can remember being at home and my friend ringing me in floods of tears telling me to put the tv news on. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I wondered how people overseas reacted to 9-11 as it was happening. I guess it was mid-afternoon in Great Britain when the attacks happened. Just unbelievable, even 20 years later. I purchased a book called 30,000 Stitches and it is very good. Want to read it with Lucia and Cady, Cami is too young, yet. Just wanted to allow a little time between the anniversary date and when I read to them.
I need to check out Marie Kondo’s series. I think I do. Well, I know I DO…but it might send me into some kind of cleaning and purging frenzy. Which could be very good, I guess. Safe to say Rachel probably didn’t need the things left behind in her chest of drawers. Sounds like the perfect space for craft supplies, maybe a few scrapbooking things again?? Your crochet supplies?
Joanne
I do typically eat an apple a day and have yet to find an apple variety I don’t like. The family favorites are called honey crisps which are sweet and crunchy with a thin skin so that’s mostly what I buy though I do like Cortland apples in my apple pies.
Congrats on the new computer!
notinjersey
I think we need some organized link ups for the middle of the month to keep us motivated to share things!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
We do need some middle-of-the-month link ups!!
Juhli
As usual you have been busy. You also sound at peace with your decision not to take the subbing job which I do think would be stressful in the midst of the pandemic resurgence. Take care and keep posting!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, my friend. Was asked to tutor for an hour every day and then 3 hours on Saturdays but turned that down, too. Just feels kind of crazy to put myself in the midst of a bunch of strangers (sweet kids) during this pandemic.
Lysha
Glad you’re starting to feel happy in retirement.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, friend! Me, too.
Jennifer
Hooray for getting into a routine, your groove and a happy place:) And even for taking your time off the list. I’m sure that was a big step…but sounds like you were ready to close that chapter. I hope your days continue to feel good and you stay encouraged! Thanks for sharing your journey. It encourages the rest of us:) Happy September!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am feeling much better these days. Not sure what helped me turn the corner but so thankful I have.
Retirement Reflections
Great to read that you are beginning to feel content in your retirement. Like all other stages of life, it is filled with joy and sorrow — but I wouldn’t trade it for any other stage!
Debbie
I’m so happy to read your post Leslie, that you are enjoying this new time of life! I really enjoyed your post for Leanne and I agree sometimes it helps to write things down to get them clear in our heads! Well done to you. Yay for a new laptop and I have to say your blog layout looks fresh and delightful, very inviting! Take care and love how green the desert is after some rain 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. It does help to write things down and put them out there…wherever there is!!
Kirstin
Leslie! It was great catching up on your life. I’ve been so far behind on so many things. I haven’t even looked at my summer bucket list. Ugghh. I hope to participate in the 10 on the 10th.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!
Gale Johnston
Haven’t even been on my computer in the last 5 days, but I was thinking of you and wondering why you hadn’t posted lately. Believe me, I have no room to talk! I’m doing good if I get in one post per month, and it seems like they’re always late. So you are always doing WAY better than me. Just had to tell you, though, that it was comforting to me to see that you were posting again. 😘