Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Looking back at 2017

It's the Second Day of January. A new year has begun.  Unfortunately, I spent the First Day of the New Year being a slug.  I had high hopes of being productive so that I could set the pattern. Not too successful--although I did get dressed, did 4 loads of laundry, walked Blaze, and watched many hours of Sons of Anarchy!  I have only one season left and then I can stop.  Reminds me of when I was binge-watching Breaking Bad or Dexter.  Something about these horrible, intense, violent, yet intriguing programs that pulls me in.  Oh my.  Not what I planned to write about...as you can see by the title, I planned to post some events of 2017 to record.  So, let me get on with it!

I'm checking a couple of Calendars from 2017 to remind me of what I did! No guarantee that everything will be accounted for, but I'm sure the lion's share will show up.

JANUARY:  Cher and I had our January getaway to Borrego Springs for long weekend from 3rd to 5th.  Stayed in lovely condo right on main drag.  Did a little hiking, although my pelvis break made me extra cautious...wasn't quite fully healed yet.  Loved the weekend.  Had a lot of work drama that week, and the vacation in the desert was just what I needed. 


Then, Jeanne visited as usual in January...she had a time share in Las Vegas and went up there for a week of her 3-week stay.  I joined her on the 12th.  It was fun.  We went to Valley of Fire on the 13th and then to Zion on the 14th. GORGEOUS parks...pleasant fun with Jeanne...and we also saw Van Morrison at Caesars!  We didn't stay in her timeshare...but moved to Bally's when I got there.  Continued physical therapy for my pelvic break (Oct 2016).

On 20 January, we inaugurated our new President, Donald John Trump.  Enough said about that.  But, what deserves to be put in here is that I also joined my Civilian Leadership Development teams to brew beer! What a fun day.  Great time was had by all.  We named it INAUGURALE! (Of course, I got into a little trouble about it--seems brewing beer as a team-building event is frowned upon.)



Then, on the 29th, I actually had a business trip to Charleston, SC.  Finally got to visit SSC LANT and meet in person many of the people I work with daily. I was there to be part of an Inspector General visit; my job was to review training and the Drugfree Workplace programs.  Traveled with Ginger, stayed at the Air Force Lodge (no frills, for sure), and got to visit with Brian Lindgren and meet his wife Honey.  I'm sure that it will be my first and last business trip as a government employee!

FEBRUARY: Calendars show that things were slow in February.  I joined Frazier and family for Betsy Hewett's internment at Ft. Rosecrans on the 17th.  Other than that, visited Betty M for a pre-Valentine's Day event and then did the beer bottling on 24 Feb with same team that brewed it in Jan.

MARCH:  Donna visited on 9 Feb for a long weekend. Loved having her here and just visited around town, shared her with Cher, and enjoyed time.  We went to TOMATO CELEBRATION at Cuyumaca Community College garden program.  Did some shopping, bought several tomato plants, and enjoyed time together. For work, big event was attending the Cross-SYSCOM Training meetings at SSC PAC.  Also, in March, I had the foundation of the house checked and got estimate for fixing.  That was a biggy! Also had a chance to have dinner with Debbie Hatch in O.B on the 23rd.  She's a new friend and I'm enjoying getting to know her.

APRIL: Took Betty out for her birthday in La Jolla on the 7th.  Lovely time!  Quiet month otherwise...although Cheryl and I did take Marge Moss out for her birthday (15 Apr) a little late! Although it doesn't really count as a trip--Cher and I went to flower fields on 22nd up in Carlsbad. Lovely day.  Exquisite flowers!

MAY:   Big month for travel: Left for STC Summit in Washington, DC, on 6 May.  Taught full-day class on Sunday at conference, and then attended some events, spent time alone, roomed with Leah Guren, and enjoyed the venue.  Cher joined me on 10 May and we moved to VRBO in DC.  Dicey part of town, but little apartment we rented was great. We saw Christine Jackson (went t, her brother & family, visited museums, and enjoyed being DC tourists for a few days. Then, rented a car on Sunday, drove to PA to visit Karen & Lloyd and then Donna and Bill for two nights. Drove down to Fincastle to visit Jeanne for three nights (included trip to Monticello!), then drove back to DCA to fly home on 19th.  It was a delightful vacation.  Got to see Jeanne's home & some delightfully beautiful eastern geography.  Had fun evening with Donna, but wasn't there all that long...wish it could have been longer.

JUNE: Two big events in June.  Saw Dalai Lama at UCSD with Cheryl, Connie, and Barbara on the 16th and went to Vegas with Cher to see Brooks & Dunn & Reba McIntyre the weekend of the 23rd for my birthday and drove back to Valley of Fire to show Cher that lovely park during the weekend stay. Great birthday.

JULY:  Karen and Pat Farrell dropped by on the 4th in their motor home.  Only visited a few hours, but it was delightful to see them. Rest of the month was quiet.  Saw Betty and Rex for meals...and enjoyed a quiet month of recouping from busy May and June!

AUGUST: Jeanne returned for a short visit--16-23 August.  Brent Argast got married on the 26th, but I didn't go.  Just didn't feel inclined. Apparently missed a major event! Oh well.

SEPTEMBER:  The month of my Virgo friends' birthdays. Saw Barbara for a meal on the 2nd and took long weekend in Los Angeles with Cheryl from the 7th to the 9th.  We stayed in a delightful VRBO in Glendale on Riverside Drive.  Lovely neighborhood near Griffith Park.  Spent a day exploring Burbank, the Gene Autry Museum, and having mani/pedis and great birthday lunch on the 8th.  Went to the Getty on the 9th.  WOW. Fantastic spot. Had early dinner and drove home on that afternoon.  Had foundation worked on from 12-13 Sept.  (Glad that got done!)

OCTOBER: Another quiet month: trip to Panama City for Cross-SYSCOM event was cancelled.  Connie had her trip to Ireland.  But, things at my home were quiet and normal.  Nice.  Yet, October saw some medical issues for me. Got a bad cold, then had some major nasty issues with vertigo. Really set me back for a couple of weeks.  Still have minor spells, but after a few physical therapy sessions and a trip to the ENT, I guess I'm living a new normal that includes occasional dizziness. It's called Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV).  In late October, I mailed in my retirement papers with chosen date of 30 June 2018.  Decided it was time for me to make it real.

NOVEMBER:  Went to Vegas with Barbara on 17th to see Celine Dion.  Phenomenal concert! And nice trip.  Barb got us Southwestern flights, so the trip was easy.  Deb Sauer visited me on 10th and stayed only 24 hours, but Cher and I drove her up to LAX on the 10th, so we enjoyed our little road trip--stopping in La Jolla, Del Mar at Brig for lunch, then the Self-Realization Fellowship gardens and gift store before jumping on freeway to get her to LAX for her red-eye back to Boston.  It was delightfully fun.

DECEMBER: Finally.  Last month of the year. Bought a new fridge because I hated the old one and I couldn't bend over to see what was on bottom shelves without getting dizzy! Had bone density test to see that I am pre-osteoporosis...(not good)...did all-day focus group about big suit coming up between a couple of IT giants...and made $300 for the day! Helped celebrate Holidays at work by coordinating 80300 party for Margaret.  Had evening with Cheryl GH, began Social Security checks, and found out that Charley's nose is probably cancer and her time on earth with us is not long.  Also, found out about David Armbruster's death--a sad loss to tech comm for sure.  All in all, had quiet Holiday month. Super sad about Charley...but not much I can do but let her wait it out until quality of life is bad. Took Marge out for lunch on 30th for pre-NYE celebration.  Great to be able to share time with that lovely 95-year old lady!



AND THAT WAS IT!  Whew.  I'll add some pics if I get the chance.  Sure will make it more interesting.




Linda O

Linda O
Glamorous Me