Because of the title you probably think you are about to read a noble thought or two about peace on earth or some other equally important matter. Sorry, this is me remember. I'm not a deep thinker. My Christmas wish involves a gift I received two years ago. I wish I had taken the time to return it. It's been driving me crazy for nearly two years. Oh sure, the cost of replacing the gift is minimal and the time to make the correction could be counted in minutes, but I am a firm believer in wearing out anything I own. I don't replace it until its worn out or broken. It's really hard to break a pair of house shoes so I must wear them out before buying, or receiving as a gift, a new pair. Here's how it all came down:
Late Christmas night, the family has gone home, the litter has been cleaned, and its time to sit and rest...reflect on a wonderful day with the kids and grand kids. I take a small gift given to me from Deb and slip them on....
Me: Hey Deb, did you look at these slippers before buying them?
Deb: Of course I did.
Me: Did you actually open the box and look at these slippers?
Deb: Well no. I looked at those on display and then found a box with your size. Why do you ask?
Me: Because they are both for the right foot.
Deb: Don't be silly. They're house shoes.
Me: Well look at them...two right feet.
Deb: I don't see it but if it bothers you take them back.
Those were the magic words, "take them back". She knew I wouldn't go to that much trouble. I put my old house shoes back on and set these in my closet. After a while the old shoes grew weary and died. After my grieving process I dug out the gift from the previous Christmas. I tried them on and to my surprise they felt pretty good. They were soft so my feet kind of formed the shape. I enjoyed them until I set down in my recliner and saw the shoes. Two right shoes staring back at me. I complained again to Debbie about two right footed shoes....she felt no sympathy at all....hardhearted woman! I've worn these shoes now for well over a year. They are very comfortable but I can't stand to look at them. We had unexpected company a few nights ago and as Debbie walked to the door I ran to my closet, kicked off the house shoes and put on some nice left foot, right foot shoes.
This is my Christmas wish for each of you: Enjoy peace and prosperity this coming year. Take time to pray and reflect on the joys of life. Always check out your gifts closely and return them if they are both right-footed.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Monday, December 12, 2016
Uh, I'll think of a title later....
The last two meetings of the Procrastinator's Club were insightful and helpful in many ways. I can't remember exactly what was covered but I hope to get the minutes out to everyone soon. I will have to find my notes on this desk...eventually....but not now.
Debbie used to ask me to do things for her with, "When you have a minute will you...?" Over the years the request has changed from "Someday soon, I hope you will get this done" to "I know you never plan to do this but I still need...". I feel bad about this and hope to correct my failure as soon as I can.
Just this morning I was reflecting on my first year of retirement. I thought back to my plans for all my free time and resolved to never be lazy. I may have been lazy a small amount of this past year but I did accomplish a few things. Unfortunately, most of the things shown on my first official "to do" list are still on the list. It's not that I'm lazy, I just have not had a chance to get to those items. Guilt forced me to dig around on this desk until I found the list. I got busy and did two of the things she had requested so long ago. She hasn't noticed yet but once she does she will be one happy old girl.
I'm embarrassed and slightly claustrophobic over the condition of my study. So many projects started...so many projects left undone. Over a year ago I resolved to clear out my old CD's by listening to one each time I used my rowing machine. The two I listened to and chose to toss out were still sitting apart from the others on my bookshelf. Shame caused me to pull them out again last night. I decided to keep all of them so I cleaned them and put them back on the shelf. It will give my grandkids something to laugh about some day when they are going through the things I left behind. My notes for partially written stories are stacked on a stool next to my desk. I accidentally kick the stool on occasion and scatter the notes so its not that I haven't touched them this year. I am going to sort and file these today. I am also going to finish cleaning all my old 78 records which are in four stacks....'clean' stack, 'to be cleaned' stack, 'Christmas' stack, and 'what ever possessed anyone to buy this' stack. This is a slow process so it wont be done for a few days but I will get it done...probably.
I can see the neck of my banjo over in one corner. I played it about two days ago so I don't really know how it got so buried back there. I hope to rescue it before the day is out. I did take my guitar off the wall the other day. I hadn't touched it in over a year. After a good cleaning and tuning I found it to be in good condition. I played it for a while to make sure I was still as mediocre as I have always been. Cody received a new Fender guitar as a gift from Cayce a few months ago so I figured I better brush up. Who knows, we may go on the road....but I seriously doubt it. He is gainfully employed and will probably say, "Someday dad, when I get around to it". I wish I could say I didn't understand.
On a positive note, I have stayed busy in my wood shop (some people refer to this as a garage). I opted to park the old truck outside so I could set up my tools permanently. It has worked out well and I love to spend time out there. Some days I actually make things.
I recently attended a six weeks seminar on the business of writing. I thought it would inspire me to really get busy and get published again. Evidently, it takes more than two published stories to survive as a writer. Thankfully, I don't have to depend on my writing for survival. It's a hobby and if I tried to go into it seriously I would be back to the stress I was so anxious to get away from with retirement. Actually, I'm kind of lazy and don't seem to have the drive to excel in this field...hopefully someday I will but no time soon....too busy, way too busy. I do have several stories nearly done....when I say nearly done this means I have figured them out in my head and have scribbled senseless notes on notepads, old receipts, and napkins. All I have to do now is take this information and put it together on this screen. I will do that some day....soon I hope...but not too sure exactly when.
I would write more now but I obviously don't have anything of relevance to say. I need to wrap this up because its past time for my nap and I don't like to put things off.
Debbie used to ask me to do things for her with, "When you have a minute will you...?" Over the years the request has changed from "Someday soon, I hope you will get this done" to "I know you never plan to do this but I still need...". I feel bad about this and hope to correct my failure as soon as I can.
Just this morning I was reflecting on my first year of retirement. I thought back to my plans for all my free time and resolved to never be lazy. I may have been lazy a small amount of this past year but I did accomplish a few things. Unfortunately, most of the things shown on my first official "to do" list are still on the list. It's not that I'm lazy, I just have not had a chance to get to those items. Guilt forced me to dig around on this desk until I found the list. I got busy and did two of the things she had requested so long ago. She hasn't noticed yet but once she does she will be one happy old girl.
I'm embarrassed and slightly claustrophobic over the condition of my study. So many projects started...so many projects left undone. Over a year ago I resolved to clear out my old CD's by listening to one each time I used my rowing machine. The two I listened to and chose to toss out were still sitting apart from the others on my bookshelf. Shame caused me to pull them out again last night. I decided to keep all of them so I cleaned them and put them back on the shelf. It will give my grandkids something to laugh about some day when they are going through the things I left behind. My notes for partially written stories are stacked on a stool next to my desk. I accidentally kick the stool on occasion and scatter the notes so its not that I haven't touched them this year. I am going to sort and file these today. I am also going to finish cleaning all my old 78 records which are in four stacks....'clean' stack, 'to be cleaned' stack, 'Christmas' stack, and 'what ever possessed anyone to buy this' stack. This is a slow process so it wont be done for a few days but I will get it done...probably.
I can see the neck of my banjo over in one corner. I played it about two days ago so I don't really know how it got so buried back there. I hope to rescue it before the day is out. I did take my guitar off the wall the other day. I hadn't touched it in over a year. After a good cleaning and tuning I found it to be in good condition. I played it for a while to make sure I was still as mediocre as I have always been. Cody received a new Fender guitar as a gift from Cayce a few months ago so I figured I better brush up. Who knows, we may go on the road....but I seriously doubt it. He is gainfully employed and will probably say, "Someday dad, when I get around to it". I wish I could say I didn't understand.
On a positive note, I have stayed busy in my wood shop (some people refer to this as a garage). I opted to park the old truck outside so I could set up my tools permanently. It has worked out well and I love to spend time out there. Some days I actually make things.
I recently attended a six weeks seminar on the business of writing. I thought it would inspire me to really get busy and get published again. Evidently, it takes more than two published stories to survive as a writer. Thankfully, I don't have to depend on my writing for survival. It's a hobby and if I tried to go into it seriously I would be back to the stress I was so anxious to get away from with retirement. Actually, I'm kind of lazy and don't seem to have the drive to excel in this field...hopefully someday I will but no time soon....too busy, way too busy. I do have several stories nearly done....when I say nearly done this means I have figured them out in my head and have scribbled senseless notes on notepads, old receipts, and napkins. All I have to do now is take this information and put it together on this screen. I will do that some day....soon I hope...but not too sure exactly when.
I would write more now but I obviously don't have anything of relevance to say. I need to wrap this up because its past time for my nap and I don't like to put things off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)