TALES OF OUR TRAVELS AND OUR LOVE OF ADVENTURE

Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Brand New and Exciting Year Has Come!

This is the year I retire. This is the year Don and I will finally make it to the Canadian Rockies, and probably Alaska. This is the year we don't have to hurry back from our summer trip in order to be at work for the first day of school.  We have big plans, including short trips during some 3-day weekends, a medium trip over our 2-week spring break, and then our big trip north. 

Today we are sloths. There's so much good football on, and later some hockey, so we're just enjoying the sports. (I tell Don all the time he's lucky to have found a woman who's a sports fanatic.)  I made Paradise Potatoes and Eggs for breakfast, heavy on the mushrooms for me to cut a few of the carbs.  For lunch, we had Zannie's Black-Eyed Pea Dip with tortilla chips, therefore getting our "good luck" black-eyed peas for New Year's Day. It was a really good way to use black-eyed peas - and Don and Kenny gobbled it up.

My Texas Tech Red Raider won the Cotton Bowl - though they gave me a scare with some defensive breakdowns and some great Northwestern offensive plays during the second half. Way to go, Tech!  Now we're getting ready to watch the Rose Bowl, and I think we're both going to root for TCU. I'd like to see them finish unbeaten and get the respect they deserve. Then tonight we'll start with the outdoor hockey game in Pittsburgh, and switch over to the Kings-Sharks at 6.

I might sit down at my sewing machine for a bit, but I might not. Who knows?  It's my next-to-last day of winter break, and I'm in no rush to get anything done.  I could get used to this!

I'm glad 2010 is over. It had too much stress in it job-wise, due to the horrendous state of the California budget and all the cuts made to public education. I've had more phone calls and emails from teachers with stress-related issues than ever before, and it just doesn't look like it's going to get any better.

For a GREAT metaphor, consider this.  During this morning's Tournament of Rose Parade, the float that won the trophy for "Best Presentation of Life in California" broke down and had to be towed. Talk about irony.

But now I have 93 work days left.  But who's counting?! 

7 comments:

Cindy said...

Yeah the countdown begins!!!How exciting.

The blackeye pea dip sounds yummy..I wrote it down to make.

Check back in this week..I am doing a post on the Cindy's in my blog world..lol

Happy New Year..Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham

heyduke50 said...

yes we too love that 2011 (our retirement year) has finally arrived... happy new year to you...

Sondra said...

All we can do is hope for a better year--we enjoyed our Black Eyed Peas and Collards!
I know you have much to look forward to..ENJOY
Happy New Year

Chuck and Anneke's RV travels said...

Retirement, now that is really something to look forward to in the new year.

Cindy said...

I did exactly the same thing before we retired in 2007. You are going to love your new life when the day comes. It took some time getting used to the idea that I didn't have to go to work especially on Monday's. Nice to meet another Cindy.

Happy New Year to you, from Cindy at Up the Creek.

Ivey said...

This is our year too. 97 days and counting. I cannot wait to just toss the alarm clock out the window. And all my teacher clothing will go to donation. RV attire here I come.

Rustedgranny said...

I'm just behind you at 103 days and I'm definitely counting. RV is waiting. Our travel lists are similar. The ten days over Christmas was a taste of freedom to come.