[I’ve been running/walking, my normal three times a week]
My blog appears to be on the ropes. I had not posted since August 1st.
Ok. Most of my musing thoughts have been going into YouTube or coming from YouTube.
But I use this blog as a diary of sorts. So I’m going to miss that aspect if I don’t get back with it.
Earlier in this month I had a break from the house moving and I drove up to Des Moines. I slept in the guest room, made breakfast, did laundry. Mom and I went to the Fair for a couple of hours on Friday the 8th. Then I went back for more my self on Saturday the 16th. Sunday I went to church, then in the afternoon started off for Cedar Rapids where I ate dinner with the Powells. After that I drove down to Mt. Pleasant and got a motel room.
I was home close to mid-day on Monday the 11th. I needed to be back by Tuesday the 12th. At this point I don’t remember what the issue was on the 12th but I was back in time.
I really enjoyed my time in Des Moines and at the fair.
I believe it was Saturday the 16th that our son came up from Meridian and helped us box up stuff. We got the kitchen done and other things. There is a big stack of boxes in the living room. That was a real help.
Since then I have been doing home repair projects and continuing with the packing.
Then this week we had a previous scheduled procedure at the hospital which included prep time on Monday and Tuesday leading up to 3+ hours of surgery on Wednesday. It wasn’t me under the knife.
That went well. And the patient is recovering at the hospital.
We had a bit of a last minute scare that the insurance was not on board for the procedure. But that seems to have cleared up while it was underway. I sort of figured that would happen.
This is the second time someone has been digging around in the GI tract and this episode involved some cleanup from the last time. I don’t know if the last time was the “cause” of the current problems but it had somehow become at least an obstacle to better health. The patient reports that she feels much better except for the foot long incision down her middle. It may be awhile before she can do any plank exercises.
We have been steadily pushing for earlier closing on our house down south. At one time we explained that the 25th was our last real opening in August. That was looking to be an issue because they wanted a first pay stub to prove that I actually started the new job but my first pay day is the 15th of September.
But they kind of missed that deadline.
Then there was some thought we could do it mostly by e-signing and have the closing today the 29th of August… but the e-signing idea was a bust.
It turns out that if one of us weren’t in the hospital we could have done it today (there was a last minute push). But it would have required driving down to the closer’s office 2+ hours away. Not happening.
So now they are aiming for the end of next week and letting us sign papers in person with a notary here in Columbus, either at the hospital or at home. We will see if that happens.
The next big development is Tuesday when I start my new job. I’ve heard from the new employer, we’ve been working with them to get the proof of employment my mortgage lender wanted, and today I got an email about where to park and what time to show up. So maybe all of the drama will eventually leak out of the bucket and we will be left with a normal job at a normal place with normal people. I won’t have to schmooze at interviews or spend vast sums. I hope so.
Financially, we were soo close to paying off the current house. So I’m hoping all of this won’t set us back much and we can pay off the new place before I truly retire. A lot of that depends on how much we can get for the current house when we sell it. We have already had some nibbles and it is not yet on the MLS. I’m hoping it sells well.
I still want to keep working. I want to keep contributing before I convert to being a receiver of government checks. And I’m thankful that someone thought I was worth hiring. And worth waiting a month for, the month since I accepted the position.
[I was looking at the nursing carts at the hospital here in town. They use a different brand. So I now know one of the competitors. I thought the carts looked kind of dumb (as in not much features) and outdated.]
I’ve been unemployed since the end of June. Our savings has slowly drawn down and the credit card balances gone up. We were probably within the range of success if SS had been in the picture. I’m paying for COBRA to extend our benefits from the old job and even that turned out pretty well. And COBRA can go 18 months which would put me past 65. But I didn’t apply for SS, I looked for a job. And a job came along. So I’m going on a bit farther.
I may regret that. I have a tendency to revisit old decisions and frequently they don’t stand up to scrutiny. Our youngest grandchild will turn two in November. I last saw the whole gang of kids and grandkids last Christmas. I saw a few again in March. I wish I could live next door but I don’t and I can’t.
Fortunately my son-in-law’s mother lives near them and is active in their lives. I’m thankful for that.
And who knows how things will turn out. Life is a series of adventures, so keep your seat belt on and your hat pulled down tight.
One reply on “Almost a month”
Your life is complicated (“hat pulled down tight”) and you have a higher view of working (“contributing”) than I _ever_ had. Kids and grandkids and living proximity – I am left thinking Bill made sacrifices (long commute in all weather and a job with not much vacation time) to have grandparents near grandchildren (vs. living in Ames or take a job in another state). Only to have the majority of _his_ kids move as far away as possible in various directions without being in the ocean. A bitter pill.