Monday Morning - July 7 - Bucket List

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days

Monday, July 7, 2014

I don't have a bucket list.  I don't really know why.  I like lists.  I have lots of to do lists - work, home, etc.  I am definitely a list person.  But a bucket list doesn't sit right with me.  A list of things to do before I die?

 I don't think life works like that.  It is more organic.  You do one thing and that leads you to another... leads you to another.   The undiscovered, the unimagined...best parts of life.

Sure there are things I want to do, places to see but I had wishes like that when I was a kid and at every stage so far. .  Why do we have to put this "before I die" label on it. 
I can understand a list of things to do before I retire (while I still have the money) or things to do while I am still fit enough. 

What happens after you have done everything on your bucket list??  Are you finished... just sitting around.... can go anytime.

No, not for me.  I will carry on bucketless

Monday Morning June 16 - Just do the right thing, Joe

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday June 16, 2014

The Mayor of my hometown has been embroiled in a scandal over the past couple of years.  No, I am not talking about Rob Ford - this is yet another Canadian Mayor who has failed to do the right thing.

In a nutshell - our mayor was formerly a federal politician who during his time serving as a member of Parliament allegedly altered an $1700 invoice for the deposit for his sons wedding to an invoice for a cancelled political visit.  The forged document was leaked to the local newspaper spurring an RCMP investigation resulting in charges of  forgery, fraud and breach of trust.  On Friday, the court case came to conclusion and he was found guilty on all three charges.  He awaits sentencing.

It seems to me that every step along the way, he had the opportunity to do the right thing....

The most obvious was the initial crime.  How do you get to the point that you think you are entitled to have the hard earned tax contributions of Canadians pay any part of your sons wedding

When confronted by the RCMP he could have admitted his actions, confessed and accepted the consequences of his actions.  This would have saved the embarrassment of the city and saved the taxpayers the expense of the trial.

When charged, he could have stepped down temporarily as Mayor until the outcome of the charges were known.  Why carry on and have the City tagged with this scandal.

When found guilty on Friday - he should have stepped down as Mayor immediately.  He no longer has the moral authority to be the steward of this citys resources or reputation. The decision to appeal is up to him and his legal team, but step down.  Stop this from being a civic issue and instead turn it into what it should be - a personal issue .

For a man that takes every opportunity to profess his love of this City....he seems to care little for what is in the best interest of our town.

Just do the right thing, Joe.

Monday Morning - June 9 - A flower pot now stands....

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday, June 9, 2014

A flower pot now stands where a basketball hoop once did.

When we first moved into our house over twenty years ago, my father in law bought a full size basketball hoop for my son for his sixth birthday.  It was before the days of portable ones, so my husband poured bags and bags of cement to secure it in place.  

I remember when it first went up and how it towered over the driveway, I wondered if my son would ever be tall enough to use it.  

It seemed like no time at all and he was playing ball in the driveway. Eventually he grew to 6'4 and could hang off of it.

The hoop was not only a source of recreation but a navigation aide as well.   For years, it was the only hoop on our street and I would always direct people to the "house with the hoop in the driveway"

Over the years it had become rusty and an eyesore, It had to come down.  So last week, my son came over and took down  his birthday present from his grandfather from all those years ago.   They had done such a good job putting it up, it was a bit of a struggle to remove. 

Now when  I pull into the driveway,  the house definitely looks better but I will never look at that flower pot and not think of the basketball hoop.

Monday Morning - June 2 - Kitten

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday, June 2, 2014

Meet Layla - our new Lilac -Tortie point Siamese kitten.  We have had her for a month and she is the main reason I have not been on this blog.  She is into everything and everytime I go online, she insists on sitting on my keyboard.

It has been 14 years since we had a kitten and I had forgotten how absolutely cute and courageous they are.  She is into everything and tears around our house like a mad thing.  We are having so much fun with her.  



She has at least doubled in size since she joined our family and looks more like a young cat now than a kitten.










Over the month, Beau and Layla have worked out their issues - she constantly was attacking him - Beau was a bit frightened... but now they are on the path to BFFs.  It is remarkable and a lesson in patience  for me how a 100 pound dog lets a little one pound kitten into his home and his heart.  Thank you Beau

Monday Morning - April 28 - Aging and Dementia

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday, April 28, 2014

It seems that everyday I am reminded through newspaper and magazine articles of the increasing incidence of dementia in our society.  And as we boomers grow older they are predicting an "epidemic" ---as only  boomers can sensationalize  something that has been around forever and suddenly  impacting us. 

My Mom who is 83 has dementia. My husband's father had dementia in the last year or so of his life.  I certainly am witness to the insidious nature of this condition and how it effects an  individual and their family.  

We are bombarded with awareness campaigns about the ravages of the disease ..... cries for more research.......countless recommendations on how to prevent or stave off this condition.

I am sure I am not alone in doing suduko, word search, and computer cognitive games in an attempt to keep my brain agile in hopes that various forms of puzzle solving will be the secret weapon in the war against an aging brain.  

But yesterday an article in the Toronto Star caused me to pause and to think differently. It challenged my assumption that diminished cognition means diminished growth.  

The article was about a  research centre that has opened  in Toronto- The Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy. The focus of the centre is not on dementia as a tragic disease but  on the enrichment of  people's continuing abilities - to help them grow through creative expression, music, dance, movement, visual arts.  To reach them and build relationships based on  creative expression not cognitive expression.  

http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2014/04/25/dotsa_bitove_wellness_academy_takes_artful_approach_to_fighting_dementia.html

With all of the science that is dedicated to the working of the brain and the  "dementia epidemic" , this article was a reminder to me not to lose sight of the more complicated and powerful part of our minds - the emotional- the creative.   Maybe it is time that I  let go of my assumption that later life dementia is solely degenerative .

Monday Morning April 21 - Couples Timing

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Recently the New York Times  published an article on the timing of retirement for couples.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/your-money/coping-when-not-entering-retirement-together.html?_r=0

Let's face it - we no longer live in a world where the husband is the sole breadwinner and when he decides to retire the couple is "in retirement".  Things have changed.   Couples come in many forms and so does work .  It seems highly unlikely that two people's individual passion for their work and their desire to pursue new interests would coincide at exactly the same time.

I certainly know that my "artist in residence" has no plans to retire - he says never.  I totally understand that his need to continue to create does not diminish over time and  may  even intensify.  In fact, as an artist often the value of your work  appreciates in the more mature years of your career.  I wouldn't want or expect my husband to retire just because I was planning to retire.  It doesn't make sense. . However the impact of one partner retiring does impact the couple and not just financially .Retirement is a transition and a change in lifestyle for an individual and for a couple.  .

Monday Morning April 7 - Kids Room

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!







Monday  April 7, 2014

Huffington Post had an article this week about creative makeovers for  kids rooms once they leave home.  Renovating the room is a real milestone that your son or daughter is not coming home.  It is a marker that a chapter has come to a close.  It really doesn't seem like that long ago.... you were focused on making the perfect nursery for this new baby to come home to and the next thing you know... 20 + years later,  you are dismantling a room full of memories....

The Huffington Post article through facebook asks parents for examples of what they have done with their kids old  room and also publishes kids responses.

Here is the link:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/spare-room-ideas_n_5030411.html

For me.... well I am not quite there...  I mostly keep the door closed.  The bed is gone... replaced by boxes of stuff.... storage for paintings.  The baseball photos and trophies still line the walls so ..... part storage part shrine.   I really need to tackle this ....  Put that on my retirement list.....