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I made a Marry me chicken recipe, and it wasn't a favorite with us. Maybe I should try again. I think it needed a lot more tomatoes than called for in the recipe (sorry Peps!).

Retirement is incredible! Like everyone else, I feel blessed to make it this far, and with some assurance of financial stability. My first job was at 12, working as a detassler (walking through corn fields, pulling tassels off corn stocks before they pollinated). Back in the 70s, there were no regulations about how long a day a kid could work if it was seasonal agriculture work AND they did not have to pay minimum wage. So for about 6 weeks of my summer break, I got loaded unto a school bus, and dropped off in some field, where we worked 8 hours or more for $1.89 an hour. The only redeeming feature was some of my friends were there too. When I look at my social security earnings, there it is! They took social security money from my little pitiful check in 1973. It makes me so mad when politicians in either party refer to social security as an entitlement. You had my money for 50 years, and I want it back!!! (Hmm, reading this perhaps it was not the character building experience the adults hoped for, but rather a life long grievance!) After 3 summers of that I was a very bad waitress, and then a nurse's aide (before you had to be certified). When I got to college I was delighted to have desk jobs, indoors. Although I did have a short term job feeding cocaine and PCP to Reeses Monkeys for a research study for the Depart of Psychiatry. I couldn't abide with this and quit, even though it was kind of a coup to get the job as a psych major. I guess if you're going to be used in animal experiments, being stoned most of the day is better than some other studies.

Today I did a retirement thing, I met up with two friends for brunch. Planned it last night : ) Two and a half hours later, we were pretty caught up, and finally left the table.

We enjoyed the concert last night, great music, along with the side show some older (than us) seniors put on. Tables and seats are reserved in advance. You pick your seats. When this couple arrived, they noticed there were some open tables, and I kid you not, they sat at 4 different tables trying to decide if they liked any of them better. They stepped on DH's foot while passing by, and did not apologize. Then their friends arrived, and they wanted to sit at the original table, so that's what they did. They touched glasses and napkins at each table. Then they had the waitress switch out their food multiple times. But not just her, they flagged down any staff walking by. Finally, even though it is billed as a quiet listening room, they kept shouting at each other above the music. The final plot twist is that it became apparent they were family (maybe one set were the parents) of the saxophone player. If my parents came to see me play, I would sure wish they had better manners. Except for the talking, which finally stopped during the 2nd set, it was pretty amusing. What must it be like to go through the world, so unbothered.

Tonight I am cooking all the food I am bringing to my parents house for the weekend. It's easier to do it here. My Mom is supposed to be on a low sodium diet. She asked me if I could bring the broccoli cheese soup I make. I said Mom, it has a lot of cheese! Her response, cheese is okay. Umm... I had some in the freezer so I will bring her a little taste, but I am very sure that cheese is not okay on a low sodium diet. My Dad is going hunting, so I will be the caregiver from tomorrow morning until Sunday afternoon. Pray for me.

202.7 this morning. Quite an unfair weight since I got up 3 times to pee during the night! What the heck is up with that????

Cool and rainy here today. A blah day...

Less of a busy day yesterday, sort of... LOL! I was busy, but not productive around the house. I had a client in the morning, took a break for lunch then headed off to get my hair cut at 2:15. Immediately after that I went to pick up two Grizz sized crates a woman in the neighborhood was gifting on FB, and straight on to the gym. Got home just after 4:30 and went to an online meeting for the Lakeland Terrier club at 5 (my first meeting with them, and most likely there will not be many to follow... not well run...and boring...). Then Blitz got a brush out and a pedicure . To end my chores I made about 5 pounds of raw food blend for Buster and Grizz. In between there is always time for computer games. LOL! After dinner I watched a couple episodes of Leanne and an episode of The Witcher. I'm not sure how much I like the new season with Liam Hemsworth taking the lead role. The show also seems a bit more bloody.

I have a client at 9 this morning. I'll be done by 10:30 and then the day will be mine to do as I please.

So, here's a thing: I have basically worked to earn money since I was a teen. Had to pay for the things like car insurance, my horses, going out money, etc... my parents considered a luxury expense. So I've worked for a good 45 years. So, at 61 my younger self thought I would be "old". But I do not feel old. I feel youthful and energetic. Because I feel young, retirement is feeling quite decadent. I know I have "earned" it, but damn, I am feeling spoiled. It is a gift to be able to wake up and face the day knowing I am 100% in charge of my day. I suppose this cloud 9 feeling will eventually lessen, but dayum! I sometimes feel like a kid playing hooky!

I seem on track to get back under 200 before PS. This is good. I've been focusing more on protein, a few more veggies, and fewer carbs - especially the junk carbs (my true nemesis). It's not easy doing it this way, but not having the eating disorder kick into high gear due to dieting is refreshing.

Shot day today.... Tirzepatide Tursday! (hehehehe)

117.4 - I love it when my weight settles back after several days of creeping up. For the last 15 months I have stayed in this range pretty much, just eating what I want mostly but it is hard to not feel nervous on the ups.

I probably will start having housekeeping, likely in mid-December unless I can get them to start on 12/1 or 12/2 before the sisters come for their 9 day visit. Then I think I would have them come every 2 weeks. Comparable cost to what I paid in Massachusetts. DH is quite enthusiastic about it because he says our free time is worth at least that much. He has been doing the floors and hates it - he wouldn't clean at all if he could help it. He had housekeeping at the start and end of his seasons in Florida and never in Massachusetts - the only thorough cleaning there was done during their annual spring cleanup, then spot-cleaning by his daughters when they would visit. The windows and mirrors are getting cleaned a week from today. They will even do the outside with a ladder (I am on the third floor).

I used the crock pot again yesterday to make Marry Me Chicken. Another really easy and tasty meal. But a fair amount of calories since it uses heavy cream. I think I will substitute light cream next time. Those Skinny Pasta noodles take the guilt out of foods poured over pasta because they are only 9 calories per serving and to me quite good. We have at least 3 days of leftovers in the fridge between the pot roast and the chicken. Yay!

The pelicans flew in yesterday (DH saw them come in while in the golf course). They were dive-bombing into the water by yesterday afternoon. It was still too cool with the wind to open the glass sliders so the full effect with sound wasn't there, but fun to even jus****ch them. It should be warm enough for a full viewing by this weekend.

Paula and her DH should arrive on the other coast of Florida today. Then I think they have 3 days until they close on their Florida home. Shopping for the new house in between?

Golf today at 9:30. Hopefully it will be in the mid-sixties by then. I think I will still wear pants and a jacket.

Two weeks to Thanksgiving/the holiday season. Have a thriving Thursday!

Beautiful picture and congratulations on a clean, fluffy Kirby! I love your views!

Pot roast is such a comfort food and really fairly good for you if you don't load up on gravy or potatoes.

Here's my Northern Lights pic! I have a tripod and went on the roof deck. This is pointed at Doe mtn behind my house with a 30 sec exposure:

I could see a faint cast of moving red with my eyes. So cool.

It's cloudy today and building to rain this weekend.

Kirby is all scrubbed, sweet smelling, and fluffy! Brushing him has always been a nightmare as he treats it like a full body wrestling match complete with teeth. I got him a new brush this week and it has really made him less playfully combative. His old slicker bru****hink was too sharp, which I realized when I accidentally brushed my leg with it and it hurt! This one has dipped tips and he is much calmer with it (though still a ways from calm).

I also jumped on the pot roast train, but after I made my shopping list, I forget where I saw the recipe, so I have to go hunt for it...

Have a great day!