It still hasn't completely set in...

Well, this retirement thing is interesting. Honestly I’m still kinda feeling like I’m in vacation mode - but today is the first day I am really starting to realize that “I’m not going back”. I'm home alone today for the first time since I retired. It sucks. I’ll be fine. I just need to work through it, and I will.

Okay - updates…

Christmas and New Years were nice. Not too busy, but not quiet either. This year was one of the best balances we’ve experienced as a family. Having Gillian home for 2 weeks was great, but happy that she enjoyed a week with her friends in Ottawa before classes began again today. Paul worked through the break, and I tidied up most loose ends and packed up my stuff at Union.

Nathan got his G2 licence almost a week ago. Super proud of him. I still haven’t let him drive anywhere on his own. Poor kid!  He is excited for the independence if his mother would ever let him out on his own! He applied to Conestoga College for “mechanical techniques - plumbing” at the beginning of December - but we haven’t heard anything back from them yet. Application deadline is February 1 - so we may not hear until after that date. 

All 6 of the jobs I applied to at UW have been filled by other candidates. Unfortunately I did not get an interview for any of them, but this is the way it goes. I appreciate all the support that I was given through the UW application process. I have learned a lot, and will work on "perfecting this craft" as I continue to seek out a new job.

For some more exciting news on the job hunt front - I have applied to Conestoga College for the role of “Technologist - Massage Therapy”. Basically I’d be in-charge of their massage student clinic and lab. The two main components of the job include mentoring the students and ordering/maintaining stuff for the clinic space. If I’m not qualified for that job, I don’t know what I’m qualified for! 🙂 I'd appreciate all the "good vibes" and "hire Laurie" intentions you can send out into the universe!

I was super excited to watch the first few PWHL games and intend on watching a ton more in the future. I've been a big fan of women's hockey for a LONG time - and getting to see them FINALLY achieve this milestone has been phenomenal. The "on ice product" has been nothing short of excellent. I haven't decided who "my team" is yet. I would cheer for Toronto just because of proximity, but seeing as I couldn't get tickets to any of their home games, I'm a bit annoyed with them (unfortunately the rink they play at only holds 2600 fans). Maybe next year they will negotiate a deal with a bigger arena. G went to Ottawa's home opener and she said it was amazing (over 8000 of them there).

Onto the boring stuff. My current reality is that I’m at home, making check-lists of stuff I want to accomplish, and if all goes well in a day, I get most done. You know, exciting stuff like “organize the Tupperware cupboard” and “find gainful employment” (still working on the second one - but it's on the list). Oh, I also got to go and “help” Paul buy new cell phones for the shop - which in all reality meant “keep him company” at the Bell store and then get suckered into helping set up his Dad’s new phone. My advice for that one is “changing platforms for someone who is in their mid-70’s and doesn’t remember ANY of his passwords is not a smart choice”! Paul will be answering constant questions for the next week or two on “how does this work?”.

That pretty much sums up my last 2ish weeks - nothing exciting which is generally a good thing. The longer I go without employment, the more exciting things will become in my brain - which isn't really a good thing. It's like the universe is trying to teach me patience or something!

How have you all been? Feel free to send me a note via email and let me know what you are up to and how it's going! I am happy to receive as many as you want to send! I miss everyone already.

Take care of yourselves!