Cooking the NYTimes and Other Assorted Retirement Activities

  I haven't been blogging much lately, taking out my frustrations and anger primarily at the political slice of our world through what I consider pithy comments on Instagram.  If you are so inclined, you can follow me at Bigtenmom2000, the moniker harkening back to the turn of this century when we had three collegians at three separate Big Ten (then only the Big 11) institutions of higher learning.  Their respective educations have proven to serve them relatively well, important I believe to point out since the value of certain fields of study is currently being raked through the coals.  Anyhow, enough about that. Over the past nine years that we have Snowbirded in Florida, our time has taken on a relatively distinct rhythm.  The earliest 6 weeks can be chilly by Florida standards, disappointing by a Snowbird's measure.  If you're parking your butt approximately 1400 miles south in a place advertising itself as the Sunshine State, you're expecting to see po...

  I've been spending a not insignificant amount of time trying to breathe deeply while watching the birds at the deck bird feeder. One might think our feathered friends would be taking refuge in their tree hidey holes during this obscenely cold weather Minnesota is experiencing, but no.  In fact, they have been emptying the feeder almost daily.  According to ChatGPT, this is why: T hey burn more energy. Birds have to keep their body temperature high, and cold air + wind drains heat fast. Shorter days = fewer feeding hours. So they pack in calories whenever they can. Food is harder to find. Insects disappear, plants go dormant, snow covers seeds—so when food is available, they don’t waste the chance. Regardless, moments spent viewing the birds visit the feeder are proving to be a source of soul soothing. I loved this from Kate Bowler's Everything Happens that landed in my email inbox today. January has been…long. Not just cold and busy and noisy (which, yes, definitely...

  Yesterday I taught a Getting Ready to Downsize class and found, not to my surprise, that one consideration many 'older folk' have as they prepare to downsize is that much of their stuff--which they know their children do not want--has stories attached.  We discussed the importance of sharing those stories because the generational history carries with it significance that once it passes, cannot be retrieved.  I know many who regret not asking parents and grandparents to talk in detail about the lives they led before they came into them.  Personally I mourn the holes in my family history, on both sides, that I didn't pursue in conversation with those who came before me.  They are lost forever.   So, allow me to encourage you to peruse your 'stuff' before heading to the Thanksgiving table.  Is there one particular item that carries with it a story you feel is of critical importance to share with those following in your footsteps?  Might you br...

  Yes, Sports Fans, this remarkable, amazing trip ends early tomorrow morning with a 12:15 a.m. Sunday flight from Chiang Mai to Seoul, where we arrive at 5 a.m., then leave Seoul for Minneapolis at 7:45 p.m. Sunday only to arrive in Minneapolis at 4:45 p.m. Sunday.  Mind boggling.  Fortunately international flights are not impacted by the flight reduction mandate so one less thing to be concerned about.   Yesterday Wanlaya was working.  Here I thought she was retired and yes, she is, retired from her position as a hospital nurse. but she runs a small clinic from in front of her home where she will see usually 20 or more patients with 'normal' medical concerns from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The medical system here in Thailand is interesting, according to a conversation I had with Art.  The government pays for your healthcare if you go to a hospital otherwise it is up to you to pay for it out of pocket or by purchasing private health insurance which, like ...