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!
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