What is Too Crowded?

 Always open, somedays the Stress Pool is a little too crowded!

Let me explain.

True to its name, there is always something going on here. For example, let's look at last Tuesday. It should have been mostly quiet - the only thing we were expecting was a 10:00 a.m. visit from the project manager at Ireland Contracting so we could arrange to sign our lives away with a financing company (we need to replace the back porch before we hit the evening news with tumbling Kellys!), and I had to leave with Moink by 10:45 in order to get him to Wexford for an eye appointment. We might have been cutting it close, but I felt it was going to be a go.

9:30 a.m. I was finishing at the dresser when I noticed in the mirror that a pickup truck had pulled in front of the house. It didn't look like the project manager, and it wasn't. It was a landscaping company that was supposed to have been here in May. (Two months late, but who's counting?!) I knock on the bathroom door to get DH's attention. "The guys from Fujian Landscaping are here."

No answer.

"I'll just go out and...well, I don't know what to tell them." I go out with a smile to greet them, (they appear to have limited English) and tell them my husband would be out in a minute - that we didn't know they were coming. DH comes out, still in jammies, and explains that we had no idea they were coming, but this is what he wanted done - and proceeds to walk them around the house, pointing out what we were hoping to have done two months before. I went back in to finish getting ready.

9:40 a.m. Steve from Ireland Contracting arrives - yay, twenty minutes early, but I was thrilled! (He's really been a pleasure to work with.) We would definitely be able to leave for the eye doctor on time. We sign our lives away, chat a few minutes, and DH starts talking to him about windows. I give them permission to sign my name for upstairs windows.

10:45 a.m. Moink and I get in the car to leave, and notice the Gas Company is unloading large equipment nearby. I hightail it out of there! Moink had forgotten his ID, but before we had left the area. I turned around, he got his wallet, and away we went.

11:30 a.m. We get to the eye doctor, all goes well, and we get back on the highway. DH calls just about the time we have re-entered the South Hills and asks if we were picking up lunch. Well, of course, now we are! 

12:30 p.m. We go through the line at the Chik-fil-A, and heading back down our street, notice there is a flagger right by our house! When he changed the sign to 'SLOW', I pulled up and opened the window. "That's my house - the one with the truck in front of the driveway."

 The poor man seemed confused. "Oh, umm..."

"Can they move the truck? So I can get down my driveway?"

He hesitated, then yelled, "Hey! You gotta move the truck! She needs to get into her driveway!" Mission accomplished. A nice man moved the truck, and I pulled into my spot behind the house. Once inside, DH said, "Oh, by the way, the pool guys were here."

I looked out to the front of the house. Trucks, workers, diggers, landscapers...and I said, "I'm not leaving the house again, and we don't have what we need for dinner. Any suggestions?"

Moink came up with Chicken Parm - he can't have the parm, but he can have the chicken. We already had pasta, sauce, and cheese for the rest of us.  All was right with the world. I just had to let Ms. Business know what we were having - we had done pasta the night before, and figured she wouldn't be interested. And, by the way, there might be some kerfuffle going on when she got home from work, so be prepared. 

3:30 p.m. All is quiet. One would never know anything had gone on around the house today, except for the aroma of fresh manure...

So, new porch sometime in November; new windows upstairs sometime in October; new lens for Moink in a couple weeks; and a few more weeks to enjoy the pool, as long as the days and nights stay warm. Many of you are craving sweaters and pumpkin spice, but not I, not yet. I would like a little time to enjoy the actual pool, especially since I wasn't able to through radiation treatments. Just a couple more weeks, that's all I ask.

Ah, life at the Stress Pool, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! Have a fabulous rest of the week, a safe and Happy Labor Day weekend, and remember, we are always open and ready to entertain your thoughts - as long as you don't mind it smelling a bit like a horse farm!

Beginnings and Endings

 Greetings fellow swimmers! It is a Wednesday evening in late August, and while I sit on the back porch and listen to the cicadas sing their summer song, I'm reminded of a day from my childhood. It was a night like this - not too hot, but not too cool. It was the night before the first day of school. My new dress was laid out (red and blue plaid, in a light cotton), and new brown leather penny loafers (yes, I had slipped pennies into the slits!) sitting next to my bed. I can almost smell the new leather! A new book bag, blue, (not backpack -we didn't have those yet!), a pencil case holding new pencils, an eraser, and a protractor, and notebooks waited on the dining room table. I couldn't wait to meet my teacher - it was either third or fourth grade, and the anticipation was killing me. I loved school.

Fast forward a couple decades, and the feeling of anticipation of the night before the first day of school still existed. There were no new notebooks, but a planner for my lessons; the same tote bag; new markers, highlighters, and a few new outfits. I never lost the love of school. But, now that I have retired, and this would have been the night before the first day, I find myself strangely at peace. 

I am doing what I like - artwork; reading; spending time with family. I get to play with Simon in the morning while I drink my coffee; talk to friends; sit with DH while we make plans for when and where we will play American Mahjongg that week (yes, a new hobby that we learned together. It keeps the mind going!) And travel planning -Ms. Business is taking me on a trip to Ireland next year - I can barely contain myself! My first juried art show is coming up in September. I've apparently beat the breast cancer - radiation has been done for a little over a month, and it's like nothing ever happened (except that I am tanned in areas that have never seen the sun!).

Life is Good.

Now, if only it would stop raining long enough for the sun to come out and warm up the real pool - that would make everything completely perfect!

I wish all my teacher friends a good year - that the children will be receptive to learning new things, and that your creativity as a teacher will remain fruitful. I'll be watching your posts!

And, if you feel you would like to come take a dip in the Stress Pool - well, you know it's always open!

The Adventures of Betty and Veronica, Part 2

 Greetings! Are many of you treading water these days, just like us at the Stress Pool? While the days are getting warmer (but not this weekend!), the birds are singing (wait until I tell you about the app I have for bird identification!), and the flowers are budding, there is still reason for treading water rather than all-out swimming! Some of the water is clear; some a little murky.

First, the question everyone asks: How is retirement?

Answer?  AWESOME! A woman in the waiting room of a doctor's office asked what I do now that I'm retired. I told her, "Whatever I want, whenever I want!" Including using the bathroom. Sorry to say, though, my bladder is still on school-time. I still wake up around 5:30 for the first go-round (but I go back to bed!), and then the schedule doesn't break the rest of the day! Of course, the difference being I don't have to wait for a convenient moment.

So, part of that philosophy lets me spend more time in the studio, along with Simon. Here he is, on my work table, obviously giving me advice on which colors should be used together.

My mentor, Donna, when we met for our monthly art-talk, told me about a gallery in New Kensington, The Manos Gallery. They have a lot of shows, but there was one coming up that was going to be juried, called "24 Minis". I looked at the prospectus, and hesitated. I've taught art for 27.5 years - but was I good enough to enter an art show? Stealing myself for the possibility of being rejected, I threw my hat into the ring. They had 214 submissions - and wow, I got in! Not sure how many were chosen, but my guess is less than half. So, I've been busy making 24 of these 6"x6" pieces. Plenty of time to tweak and freak (Is this good enough? Do I need more of these colors? What if nobody wants to buy any of these?!) She and I will go out to the gallery in the next month or so to see the layout, and I'll ask my questions (as always, I have many!). The opening reception is September 12, and it runs through October 24th, in case you're in the area and want to stop by. 

Moink and I finished going through his first book - he's been writing it for almost a decade, having come up with the idea after the head injury. I think it's stellar! Now comes the hard part - finding representation. It's as much of a process as writing! If anyone has any wisdom in that arena, I'm all ears.

At Christmastime, I bought B-man a bird feeder and a bird identification book. I wondered if it would be lame for a seven year old, but it turns out he just loves watching the birds come to the feeder! One of the things the sales person at Wild Birds Unlimited told me about was an App for the Cornell Labs, called Merlin. It has features like taking a picture of the bird for identification, but it also has a part where it will listen to and list all the birds it hears. One evening it identified seven birds in my backyard, all in the matter of just a couple of minutes! I'm utterly fascinated with this app. Another reason for being on my phone, like I needed one.

Well, and then there is the elephant in the room. Since the last posting, I've had the surgery, listed as a partial mastectomy (a.k.a lumpectomy), last week on the 23rd.  The pathology report came back that the margins (what she scooped out) weren't as clear as she'd hoped. The nurse who called from the office said the surgeon would talk to me at the post-op appointment about the next steps, which could include radiation, going back in, or watching the area. I have my questions lined up. That isn't until the middle of May. In the meantime, while a little anxious, I wait. Patience is a virtue, and one that I don't possess! Veronica, you are really being a naughty girl, hiding little clusters of cancerous material. I truly appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts!

Despite all that, there are many positives! The pool people should be out in the next couple weeks to open the real pool; I get a lot of painting time in the studio; I get to spend time with my grandkids (Nana, draw this; read this; play this) and their parents; and DH has been an absolute rock! One of the things we are going to be doing together is taking American Mah Jongg at the USC library, starting next week. I've been playing Mah Jongg solitaire all month to get used to the characters on the tiles. We are both really excited for this - something new. And, we're looking at taking a couple day or over-night trips in the near future. One of the things someone had written on the Happy Retirement board was 'perpetual summer vacation', and it is - but without the thought hanging over one's head about the first day back, and do I have lesson plans in order, and what are my classes going to be like, and we're not even going to talk about professional development!

If you're in the area, stop by the Stress Pool - the towels have been freshly laundered, and the concession stand is ready: we are open 24-7. We can talk about whatever is on your mind - I'm at my leisure!

The Adventures of Betty and Veronica

 Greetings to all! Spring is beginning to spring - I know this because the company that takes care of the actual pool has been in touch, always the first sign that Winter will soon be behind us!

If you are of a certain age, you might remember the Archie comics, and the two female characters therein. They were often envious of the attention given to one or the other by the hero of the comic, Archie. Enough background.

I had a small problem with my right breast last year, right around the time of the hip surgery in March. I saw the breast specialist in June, who is one of a handful of surgeons in the country who can do this particular procedure - no cutting necessary! Without saying too much (so as not to gross anyone out),  the procedure was done and sent to pathology, and thank the good Lord, it was benign. At my check-up, I was given a date for February of this year, for a mammogram with an appointment. From now on, I will have to have a radiologist on hand to look at the pictures, and will have an exam following. I kept the date.

So, I have the mammogram, and have to wait for someone to look at the pictures. The tech came in and said, "We need a couple more pictures."

Now, you know this isn't good. "On the right breast?"

"No, the left."

Humph. In my mind, I dubbed the right "Betty" and the left "Veronica", and wondered just how jealous Veronica had been. Turns out, pretty dog-gone jealous. 

After the second set of pictures, the radiologist met with me, and recommended a biopsy of a 'small cluster of calcifications'. We set it up for the following week: a needle biopsy. 

I despise needles. It was a good thing nobody told me ahead of time the gauge of the needle. All in all, there was mild discomfort, and I moved on with my life. The results were in the following day - positive. Oh, and there was another 'suspicious' cluster - could I come back for a second biopsy next week?

If any of you reading this have gone through this, you'll understand - and I don't want to put anyone off who might have to go through this in the future; we do what we have to do, no matter the amount of discomfort we might have to go through. The second one was a little more unpleasant, but I think that's because of the first one not having completely healed. Also, because this radiologist, more than competent, missed the cluster, probably no more than by a millimeter. So easy to do, I'm sure: they are pinpointing the area through mammography, figuring out the latitude and longitude, and hoping to hit the mark. She got it on the second try. Needless to say, I am still feeling a bit tender, and have the most beautiful shades of purple showing through! 

The second showed the same results as the first. An appointment is scheduled with the same surgeon I had last summer, but I fear this one will involve some cutting. I'll soon find out.

Veronica is smugly smiling at Betty, but she has NO idea what she's in for!

Feelings? Positive. They say it is treatable, so I'm going with that. I also have some very good friends who have gone through much worse with breast cancer, and they are still alive and kicking. We all have our crosses to bear - and mine is nothing compared to those who have not been given the same hope.

Know that I didn't post this for pity or sympathy, but rather as a reminder to get the girls checked every year. This was found during a routine exam - no lumps felt at all, but because it is an early detection, there is hope. Please get checked, for all our sakes! Guys, too - if you find a lump, go get it checked out.

Looking forward to sitting with you at the pool this summer - it won't be much longer! And, of course, the Stress Pool is always open! Come on in anytime.

Call Me Marty

Greetings! 

For those of you who are wondering, no, I'm not bored yet. There is always so much that can be done at the Stress Pool - and oh, so little time! There is catching up with friends and family; organizing the studio; going to Zumba class (which has really helped me with movement in the old limbs); holidays that are still with us in oh -so -many ways. The Christmas tree is down, but DH decided to leave a few things up for another week or so because it just looks so bare without them.

Then, there is the psychological welfare of the cat. I have to play with Simon, who is just having such a hard time adjusting to the changing schedules. And change they have.

Ms. Business took some time off while searching for another dental office - her boss (and our dentist) retired, and she simply didn't want to stay with the corporation that had bought the practice. Since the holidays were upon us, she took time off, therefore spending a goodly amount of time at home. I was leaving for work every day. Simon was thrilled, as Ms. Business is the Favored Human. 

Then came Christmas break, and we were all home for a couple weeks. There was the 'putting up of the tree', which Simon thinks we do just for him. He's never climbed it, but he does like to rub against the bottom branches. All of his humans were around all the time, and life was good for the kitty.

The week after New Year, Ms. Business found a new position - Yay for her! Now, I am home all the time, and she is going out to work. Simon really doesn't know what to do with this, as I am the second Favored Human, and we have found him occasionally moping. So, I play with him, and he often comes in to nap with me in the afternoons (yes, that is a VERY IMPORTANT thing that happens most days!). He'll get used to it, I'm sure. One thing for certain - any time I go down near the studio, he runs to beat me down the steps, only to be disappointed that I haven't gotten out the water for painting. That should start up this week, so he'll be a very happy art cat, indeed!

However, one thing I never expected was to get a new name. Well, new year; new life; new name! Who knew?

As DH and I were leaving a friend's house the other night, we placed a pick-up order of wings at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Washington for our housemates, Ms. Business and Moink. I called it in, because having to try to place an on-line order from my phone just isn't my idea of a pleasant time. The young girl on the other end told me it would be ready by 6:10 - it was 5:45. We arrived by 6:00, and DH said he'd go in, leaving me in the car. The very cold car. Around 6:15 he came out and waved for me to get out and come inside with him.

"Are they running behind?" I asked.

"They don't seem to have an order for us. Did you get a confirmation?"

I looked confused, because I've never gotten a confirmation for a phone order. I shook my head, and we went inside. Well, this poor girl was swamped. She would go back to the kitchen to look for someone's order, and would stay back there for a few minutes. (I think she was hiding.) Meanwhile, even with the people coming in for orders, there remained one bag sitting on the counter behind her. Finally, she got to me.

"Order for Wendy," I said with a smile. 

She glanced at DH, then back to me. They had been through this, going through all of the names DH could think it might be under. "I don't have one for Wendy. Wait. Did you phone it in?" I nodded. She reached for the bag on the counter and read off the order I had placed. With a sigh of relief, she handed us the bag and took DH's credit card. "I thought you said Marty."

And, sure enough, the name Marty was on the order. I know it was noisy in there, but not sure how she got 'Marty' from 'Wendy'. As we left, I said to DH, "My alter ego must have place the call. So, just call me Marty.'

"Wow, what a great title for a story!"

Someone suggested that I should place all take-out orders under the name 'Marty'. I might have to do it, if for no other reason, for kicks and giggles. I've often wished for a nick-name, but Gwen was my choice. I guess we don't really choose our nick-names; they are bestowed on us by others.

Marty it is.

When you're in the neighborhood, stop on by and we'll gaze longingly at the frozen real pool, while perhaps sipping on a nice peppermint hot chocolate - or tea, or coffee, or another beverage of your preference! Stay warm, and good luck on placing your own take-out orders. If you get a new name from someone at your favorite restaurant, we can chat about that on your next visit to the Stress Pool.

My Favorite Things (A.K.A the #1 Thing I Will Miss About Work)

 Greetings to all! Hard to believe that the holidays are just about behind us now, and 2026 is coming in hot. I've had many friends who have asked how it feels to be retired, and I've honestly had to answer that it's hard to say - it is, after all, still winter break. Ask me on Monday, January 5th. 

Darling Hubby (DH) and I are doing the dance - I'm trying to stay out of his way, as he has an already established routine. And, by routine, I mean whatever he feels like doing that moment/day/week - you get my drift. Like, shopping for food for the holiday - I said I would go with him, but I wanted to go early (before noon). He acquiesced, but I don't think he was too happy about it!

Other things that occupy my time (besides the cooking -which I was more than happy to do this year) is reading (3 David Baldacci books -the Amos Decker series - and counting!); cleaning some of those hard -to- get -to spots (has anyone else looked at tips from Southern Living or The Spruce? Highly recommend it!), and reorganizing the studio. One of the things I'm doing in there is making up a Kids Kart - the place where the grandkids know that those are the supplies meant for them. I'll post a picture when I get it all done.

But yes, there will be things I miss about work, like my colleagues; but more importantly - the IT department. One of the things you must remember, is that I "Art" - which does not include technology! It was always comforting to know that Mitch was only an email away, and technology would be fixed in a jiffy!

I went to print something out from my new laptop (an Apple MacAir - love it, but we're still getting used to each other!) which I was able to do this last week, so no problem, right?

Wrong.

Printer out of paper. No biggie - this is within my abilities to remedy.

So I go downstairs to the printer. It isn't out of paper - it claims to have a paper jam. Now I'm sweating.

I take the thing apart (according to directions) and there does not seem to be a jam. So, I try again, and to no avail - my things are not printing.

I went back upstairs, and looking at DH, I said, "I would like to register a complaint with the tech department." I told him what happened, and he said the same thing had happened to him the other day! After a little while, he hauled himself down to his computer to try to correct the issue.

He came back later with several printed things in hand. "I got that message once before, so I asked my friend AI (more on that another time!), and it told me to turn it off, unplug it, remove the paper, turn it upside down, put it right side up, replace the paper, and turn it back on." He handed me the things I had tried to print out. "However, these were in the tray when I went down."

I frowned. "These were the things that wouldn't print for me. I guess the printer was just taking its good old sweet time."

"Oh, so maybe I didn't have to do all those things."

"Probably not. It just doesn't like me."

He nodded in agreement. "It told me it doesn't like you."

A joke we've shared forever about my family talking to inanimate objects made me laugh, "Oh, so you talk to inanimate objects now?"

Scoffing, he started to walk away. "No, but I listen."

Is it any wonder I've started talking to myself?!

So, don't look the IT department (gift horse) in the mouth - that is something I will truly miss!

And, if nothing else, I guess doing calisthenics with the printer might be a change of pace! So, nothing changes at the Stress Pool - but then, I guess we really wouldn't want it to change too much.

Happy New Year from all of us to all of you - and when you're ready to share a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and hear me muttering things under my breath, come on over - there's always an extra pool towel at the Stress Pool!

Nunc Coepi

Holiday Greetings from the Stress Pool, where we look out on the actual pool, which is covered in snow and ice, longing for the days of fun in the sun. Remember those really hot days we had this past summer? I would be happy to go back to those days!

You may be wondering about the title for this blog installment - nunc coepi, a Latin phrase that means I begin. DH had looked it up and told me about it yesterday, and it stuck with me. He's been quite wonderful about this whole retiring thing, but I'll let you know in a couple weeks how he's feeling!)

T.S. Eliot wrote:

What we call the beginning is often the end.

And, to make an end is to make a beginning.

The end is where we start from.

Today marked the end of my teaching career, which lasted twenty-seven and a half years. I have taught more than 10,000 students in that amount of time, made numerous friendships, and truly, just had a lot of fun. There were also some tough times, difficult schedules, tears and frustrations, and things that happened that you would think had been made up! (We've sat it at least one hundred times at meetings and in text threads: you can't make this stuff up!) The kiln breaking down after 100 kids had finished their projects and were waiting to be baked; out of a certain color paint; someone cut their weaving off the loom and now it was coming apart faster than it had been put together. 

I begin.

People ask, "What are you going to do?"

My response, "Whatever I want, whenever I want."

So much that I want to do! No alarms; travel a little; spend time in my studio; spend time with family, not necessarily in that order (except for no alarms!). Drink a mug of coffee without gulping it down. Use the bathroom when I need to, not when someone can watch my class. Decide I really don't need to go out and clear the snow and ice off of my car, because I really don't need to go anywhere. Cook a nice dinner during the week. Read. Spend time with friends. Take Zumba for active seniors (I'm a senior now, you know!).

I begin.

There have been many ends and beginnings in my life, but the anticipation leading up to today has been overwhelming, to say the least. It was bittersweet, with lots of hugs from colleagues and students, a rousing bit of applause from the kids after their volleyball fun this afternoon, followed by more hugs. My name was added to the retirement plaque in the front lobby, with a nice send off from faculty and staff. It has been a wonderful two weeks, filled with well wishes for the future, and it will stay with me for all of my days. But now,

I begin.

Wishing you all the most joyous Christmas and New Year - may they be filled with brightness, good health, and love. And, if you're in the mood, stop by the Stress Pool - I am now at my leisure!