Transmissions from the Northern Outpost

Tag: birthday

  • A new car, 5 days off, and my birthday!

    Every Thursday, and sometimes Friday (today, for example), I share three good things from today, in the past week, and/or in the week or weeks to come, to focus on what is good. I encourage you to share in the comments your three good things too, if you want. I was introduced to thinking on three good things for the week by Deb Nance of the blog Readerbuzz who lists hers every Sunday on her blog.

    Above is this week’s No. 1: a new (used) car! It’s a 2020 Subaru Outback XT. Our old car, a 2011 Subaru Outback, died on Friday and we were able to get this one Saturday morning. Nine years newer, it’s quite a step up, with touchscreen controls being the biggest change. But we’re getting used to it, with minor frustrations but nothing compared to putting $500 every time we’d go to the mechanic’s.

    This week’s second and third grateful things are: 2.) starting tonight after work, I’m off until Thursday and 3.) my 56th birthday is on Monday. My wife Kim is off Monday and Tuesday with me. Unfortunately, our plan to go road tripping to the wine country of the Finger Lakes in New York on Tuesday isn’t happening thanks to expected rainy weather. So, we’ll just be hanging out together both days, with fun TV and movies.

    I do have other possibilities of things I want to do over the five days, including maybe finishing the Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri if two of the copies of the books come in. I only have three to go and have one already. I’d also like to watch more of the Italian TV series based on the books on MHz, which we have for a discounted rate for the a few months. Mainly, well, besides laundry tomorrow morning (or Sunday morning) at the laundromat, I just want to not think too much about things.

    Addendum: Seems like right before I go on a work break of any duration, there’s always something Friday afternoon that makes the last part of the day hectic. Today was a manic coworker. At least, it wasn’t patrons…and hey, I’m off now.

    —

  • Let Them Eat Cake, I’ll Take A Bottle of Wine

    Every Thursday, I share three good things from today, in the past week, and/or in the week or weeks to come, to focus on what is good. I encourage you to share in the comments your three good things too, if you want. I was introduced to thinking on three good things for the week by Deb Nance of the blog Readerbuzz who lists hers every Sunday on her blog.

    First, I’m grateful that I’m off work today. After the day I had Tuesday, I need the time to recollect my thoughts, obviously. I’m not going anywhere.

    Second, I’m planning on dipping into The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins again. I don’t know if I’ll finish it today. It’s not that long, but Robbins gives a lot of information. I’ve been taking notes.

    Third, I got my work schedule for work for June earlier in the week and happen to have several days off on and around my birthday. I asked for my birthday, Monday, June 9, off and the day after since with the way her schedule works, Kim happens to be off too. Our director also gave me off Wednesday, which with the weekend off for me before my birthday too gives me five days in a row off. As I work part-time at the library and can be put in the schedule to fill holes, it’s rare I get that many days off in a row so it will be welcome as probably the weather will be (finally, maybe) getting warmer than it has been so far this spring.

    We have no plans at this point, but might go to Finger Lakes wine country in neighboring New York State on my birthday for the day or the day after. Kim gets home at 6 a.m. Monday morning from her regular 12-hour shift, so most likely it will be Tuesday and on a week day at the wineries, it shouldn’t be too busy.

    —