Useful Links

**simple girl** · 01-29-2010, 05:03 PM

Surfed the net a bit this morning, then cleaned a bit. Then I did the FIRM (great workout tape). Had lunch and welcomed DH home from a week long training. Then out to grocery shop...why does it always seem to be raining when I come out of the store with all my stuff?!? Grrrr!

Having a quick bite to eat and then DH and I are going out to take a dance class together tonight. It's a swing dance class. Looking forward to it!

NW-Bound · 01-29-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notmuchlonger

...Man good thing parsley potatoes and steamed broccoli tonight...

You had parsley potatoes and green beans last time you posted...

Let me guess what's for dinner next...

Parsley potatoes and spinach?

Goonie · 01-29-2010, 06:59 PM

Went for coffee and tacos for breakfast at Burger King with the gang, then went to Walgreens to grab some stuff they had on sale...Northern t.p. 12-roll pack (the bigger rolls) 2-for $9....grabbed 6 packages. And a bunch of vitamins, fish oil, and such at 2-for-1 prices (plus had $ off coupons to boot).

Goofed off from late morning 'til about 3:30...then headed to the next town over to the Cajun restaurant for their 1st crawfish boil of the year (the owner just made a run down home to Lake Charles, LA to bring back a big ol' load of crawfish for the boil).....I downed 4 lbs. plus boiled taters and corn on the cob....a quart or so of iced tea, and a nice hunk o' homemade pecan pie....I woulda had a 2 lb. refill, but I wouldn't have had room for the pie!!!

Stopped by home for a minute, then headed over to the next town the other direction to attend a 'wake' for the daughter of an old friend of the family, she was 61.

Now getting ready to head down to the coffee shop to have my nightly caffeine fix!

Notmuchlonger · 01-29-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound

You had parsley potatoes and green beans last time you posted...

Let me guess what's for dinner next...

Parsley potatoes and spinach?

Actually Ill give you my food log for the week since you are interested... Just for dinner

Mon. Roast, Potato and carrots

Tue. Oven fried chicken breast, salad

Wed. Turkey tacos

Thur. Bacon,bagel,egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches.

Oh oh oh tomorrow is grilled hamburgers with bun and some kinda veggie...dont get too excited now...

Now Sunday...might get crazy..

W2R · 01-29-2010, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notmuchlonger

Actually Ill give you my food log for the week since you are interested... Just for dinner

Mon. Roast, Potato and carrots

Tue. Oven fried chicken breast, salad

Wed. Turkey tacos

Thur. Bacon,bagel,cheese,breakfast sandwiches.

Oh oh oh tomorrow is grilled hamburgers with bun and some kinda veggie...dont get too excited now...

Now Sunday...might get crazy..

I'm dropping over to your house for dinner tonight. And maybe tomorrow night, and the night after....

Yum! What a great weekly menu.

Notmuchlonger · 01-29-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R

I'm dropping over to your house for dinner tonight. And maybe tomorrow night, and the night after....

Yum! What a great weekly menu.

If you can make it that fast for grilled hamburgers you are invited

**Alan** · 01-29-2010, 07:23 PM

Now that I'm RE'ed I guess I should have have some more interesting things to post other than "got up at 5, got to work by 6 got home by 5, had dinner, watched a movie, went to bed at 9

Today was really the first day of our ER lives, having moved to Texas over the last couple of days. We went and joined the YMCA where a UK ex-pat signed us up (damn Brits get everywhere). We got our key-ring membership "cards" and went back inside to get a new card for me as I couldn't get it to fit on my key ring. As first I thought I was "cracking up" - 2 days ago I was a professional engineer, today I couldn't figure out out to detach a small card from the package provided and fit it onto my key ring. Turned out it only had half a hole - a manufacturing defect

(Toyota is not the only one suffering manufacturing defects).

After the YMCA visit we went off to Lowes to buy a washer and drier, then of to Wallyworld to get some shopping in. We got a call from the movers to ask if they could deliver the furniture Saturday instead of Sunday - excellent news - the sooner the better.

Also hooked up with a couple of friends and looking forward to starting to play tennis with them again

powerplay · 01-30-2010, 07:25 AM

Today is my official retirement day.

And yesterday was my very last day at work.

**Alan** · 01-30-2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerplay

Today is my official retirement day.

And yesterday was my very last day at work.

Congratulations - that is wonderful

**Walt34** · 01-30-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R

So, worse mileage isn't going to break the bank. I didn't really need a new car with only 39,006 miles on my Solara, but a new car upon retirement was something I had planned for years and besides, I just love it. Definitely a want, not a need.

The mileage should get a little better as components wear in a bit - by 2,000 miles it won't get much better. My retirement present was a brand new 2003 GMC 4WD pickup truck (DW got a new car first though) but like you both were long-planned purchases. Also wants, not needs, but it's nice to have the option once in a while.

The truck has a real-time fuel mileage indicator which I leave off most of the time because it's a distraction, varying between 4 mpg up a steep hill and 85 mpg going down the same hill.

Back on thread topic, this morning was O.C. (pepper spray) and collapsible baton re-certification, then go in to work for 6 hours this afternoon/evening.

Tesaje · 01-30-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerplay

Today is my official retirement day.

And yesterday was my very last day at work.

Whoo hoo! Congrats!

I now have my first month of retirement under my belt. I'm feeling more normal and starting to clean things up and get rid of stuff I'll never use again. Yesterday, I called my car insurance company to tell them I'm retired and they took off $137 a year. I took the long way home from some errands and took a little walk up in a local park. Brisk but pretty. Otherwise, spending time doing taxes. As well as last year's taxes, I'm also projecting next year's since they will be so different.

It is snowing this morning, getting white out there and really cold - 16F at noon. I'm not supposed to get a whole lot but it started earlier than predicted. A good day to curl up with the computer and do taxes.

W2R · 01-30-2010, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerplay

Today is my official retirement day.

And yesterday was my very last day at work.

Wow and yippee!!

Congratulations and enjoy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34

The mileage should get a little better as components wear in a bit - by 2,000 miles it won't get much better.

Thanks. I think you're right. It is already "up" to 13.1 mph.

I have only driven it 75 miles so far and it drives like a dream - - I could drive it all day and just might one of these days. I'll feel happier if/when it gets up to 18-19 mph in the city (my Solara got around 33 even though it wasn't supposed to). If the mileage stays lower than I would like and nothing is wrong, then I'll just remind myself that I don't use much gas anyway since I drive so little.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34

My retirement present was a brand new 2003 GMC 4WD pickup truck (DW got a new car first though) but like you both were long-planned purchases. Also wants, not needs, but it's nice to have the option once in a while.

It sure is. This was a retirement present from me to myself, that I had planned for a long time. It just took me a couple of months to get around to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34

The truck has a real-time fuel mileage indicator which I leave off most of the time because it's a distraction, varying between 4 mpg up a steep hill and 85 mpg going down the same hill.

Oh!! Well maybe that has something to do with it. I am going by the mileage on the information screen, that tells me things like outside temperature and how many miles I have left on that tank of gas. Once I get gas once or twice, I will be able to calculate it myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34

Back on thread topic, this morning was O.C. (pepper spray) and collapsible baton re-certification, then go in to work for 6 hours this afternoon/evening.

Eww!! Better you than me. Today I slept in until 9:30, dressed, and pretty soon Frank will wake up and call me so we can go to lunch. Then, who knows? He is getting pretty excited about his ER which will coincide with his layoff, now scheduled for the end of February.

Everyone at his work will be laid off by September and some are in dire straits. In his case, being laid off is a good thing since he wants to ER anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tesaje

I now have my first month of retirement under my belt. I'm feeling more normal and starting to clean things up and get rid of stuff I'll never use again. Yesterday, I called my car insurance company to tell them I'm retired and they took off $137 a year.

You are more organized than I am! I just took care of that when I insured my brand new Venza this week. It turned out that I wouldn't have saved anything on the Solara insurance anyway, since I didn't have collision/comprehensive insurance on it and that's where the discount is. But I have it on the Venza.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tesaje

I took the long way home from some errands and took a little walk up in a local park. Brisk but pretty. Otherwise, spending time doing taxes. As well as last year's taxes, I'm also projecting next year's since they will be so different.

I know what you mean. I am not used to estimated taxes but hopefully TurboTax will help me out. I bought it on Thursday but thought I'd wait a few weeks to make sure I have all the info/forms that I need.

TromboneAl · 01-30-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

It is already "up" to 13.1 mph.

That's a fast car!

freebird5825 · 01-30-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerplay

Today is my official retirement day.

And yesterday was my very last day at work.

Wooohooooooo!

So what are you going to DO all day ?

powerplay · 01-30-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebird5825

Wooohooooooo!

So what are you going to DO all day ?

Well right now I'm listening to a radio show on gardening and they are talking about a new blueberry called Pink Lemonade. I am planning to go out and buy a couple to see how they do. Pink blueberries sound like fun. There is a writeup about them at Something New In Blueberries – ‘Pink Lemonade’.

In general I plan to relax, unwind, and enjoy life after 30 years at mega gov.

**simple girl** · 01-30-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple girl

Having a quick bite to eat and then DH and I are going out to take a dance class together tonight. It's a swing dance class. Looking forward to it!

Here's a picture of us practicing the "dip"...so fun!

Goonie · 01-30-2010, 11:59 AM

Went out for breakfast....a nice Mexican omelet (3 eggs, ham, cheese, onion, tomato, and jalapeños), crispy hashbrowns, buttered English muffin, milk, and coffee!

Then we went down to look to see how much ice is on the rivers....the Illinois is flowing fine with some ice flows floating down stream, and one 'less-than-sane' fisherman in a small bass boat out there amongst the flows!

And the Fox River is still completely ice covered, except at the mouth, and there's a huge ice jam upstream.....the river is up about a foot above normal here, but upstream about 2-3 miles it's about 14 feet above flood stage, or about 20-22 feet above normal water level!!! When it breaks loose up there, it's gonna be a sight to see down here! Gotta make sure my camera is ready to go!

The rest of the day I'm just going to enjoy the sunshine and blue sky, and ponder and plan my Spring gardens....only 49 days to go 'til Spring!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerplay

Well right now I'm listening to a radio show on gardening and they are talking about a new blueberry called Pink Lemonade. I am planning to go out and buy a couple to see how they do. Pink blueberries sound like fun. There is a writeup about them at Something New In Blueberries – ‘Pink Lemonade’.

In general I plan to relax, unwind, and enjoy life after 30 years at mega gov.

Thanks for the info and link on the Pink Lemonade Blueberries....I'm definitely checkin' them out for a couple of big containers I have!!!

happy2bretired · 01-30-2010, 04:47 PM

Went to the "big city" today with my daughter. Daughter bought a mattress and I bought a nice leather recliner from Warren's furniture store. We ate at our favorite vegetarian/vegan place and I had a wonderful salad that contained everything but the kitchen sink.

Came home and had a nice letter about my last blood test. Triglycerides now at 253...not happy with that at all.