Friday (yay) Ramblings in These Foolish Things

Oh my god it’s Friday and I couldn’t be happier! Though I have not a lot planned other than a haircut, brunch club, laundry and packing for Florida (biz trip with pleasure at the end!), I’m always thrilled when the weekend comes around.

Also, it’s finally sunny today. This area has been seeing weeks and weeks of The Drearies (aka a blustery, rainy WINTER) and truly I have been suffering with Seasonal Affective Disorder - like pretty much everyone - and I’m just OVER IT.

I have been obsessively checking the weather report for Miami for days now. Looks like it’s not going to be toasty warm like I wanted it to be, but at least it should be sunny and nice for walking and walking and WALKING like I want to do. I can’t wait to just be out and about without worrying about some shit falling through the cracks or whatnot. I just want to have a lovely, carefree 4-day weekend in Miami, thank you very much.

Still, I have to get through this weekend and then the beginning of next week first. I’ll come into the office on Monday morning (after the dentist first thing - whee) and then Tuesday I’ll leave before the crack of dawn to get to the Trade Show. I will need to set up my section of our very large and very beautiful booth (one of the largest of the show and I’m always very proud of it) and then give a presentation to sales and execs in the booth the evening before the event opens. And THEN I’ll have to pitch product for two more days before I head out to Miami. It’s all good - just a lot to get through as the show can be exhausting.

It used to be that I had dinners planned and wild events each night (did someone say salsa dancing?), but this year I will only be there two evenings and I have ZILCH planned for the evenings. In a way I’m thrilled about that, but in another way it makes me feel like I’m no longer one of the cool kids whose presence is requested. Ahhh, another sign.

So yes, The Line I Created (TLIC) has been a marvelous boost to my morale and something I have been incredibly proud of and inspired by over the last [nearly] three years now, but even the glow is wearing off and I need to find my next challenge.

It’s like I was telling Athena and another friend yesterday, this year will be the year that I need to give myself a PROMOTION. More on that later.

Also, I was looking at my savings and investments today as I’m preparing all of my documents for my tax accountant. I have been saving for about 20 years now for my retirement. And sure, there are many of those years where I probably should have saved a lot more than I did, but I do have a sizable nest egg, depending on your definition, and that’s great… HOWEVER. My financial goals are to get to $2M at retirement.

Now. My financial advisor tells me that we are ON TRACK to get there by the time I’m retirement age. But WTF retirement age??!! 90? I know he has me planned to retire at 65…maybe 67 (which will be the “official” retirement age by the time I get there). Which means I gotta be fit and healthy at that time or how the hell am I even going to enjoy it?!

So much to DO!

Oh, also. Exercise. Remember my little issue with my carotid artery splitting last April? Yeah, that little speed bump that has kept me from getting back into the workout saddle? Well. It’s time to do something about my fear of working out. It’s time to do something now. I have been doing low impact workout videos in the mornings for a few days now and I think it’s time to get back on track. I think I may try a soulcycle class or something like that…something with low impact that won’t jar me but will get my heartrate up. I may even do some light jogging this weekend just to see how that feels. I know I’m good to go - I really can feel it. My body is really crying for a nice, wonderful sweat. Can you believe I haven’t had a real workout since April 3, 2019 (the day I nearly stroked out on the treadmill)? I’m actually very excited!

And even if it’s simply a matter of walking faster during my walks - anything is better! As I started my car to go to work this morning I turned on talk radio and the subject happened to be fast walking and how fast walkers have a longer life expectancy. They may have been referencing this study or similar, but the bottom line is, the faster your pace, the longer your life.

Step it up, sister!!

Gotta walk fast enough for exercise but slow enough for a lovah to catch me. Ha. But maybe not Prayer Boy (see previous entry). He’s been texting and I’ve been cordial, but I did tell him I was going to be out of town for the next couple of weeks. Maybe that’s stretching the truth, but I’m hoping he will forget about me like the ghosters seem to do.

And the other one, T&D , wanted to try to get together last minute - he asked me this morning what I was doing this weekend. Um. Dude. Come on. I have a life. Not really, but you know…I’m not waiting for YOU to ask me to do something at the last second. We are in our FIFTIES!! You should know how to make PLANS. How on EARTH is it that this is still happening? In. Our. Fifties.

Okay. I’ve rambled on enough. It’s actually time to get out of here and have a weekend. I think I’ll be drinking some champers with the dog tonight in celebration.

Have a wonderful weekend!
GS