Gibbs Sends His Congratulations

Geez.

I’m still wondering how retired life got so busy, but it’s not a complaint. I rather like it this way because it beats spending too much time on the couch, watching mindless TV, in the midst of winter.

Speaking of winter, my brother sent me this photo on Saturday morning. It snowed in Colorado, up to a foot in some places. This was my chance to laugh at his predicament and enjoy the cool 64F (18C) day in Wisconsin. No snow here, thank goodness. I might have thrown myself off the balcony if I awoke to a similar scene.

Nope, instead we had a warm number of days in May that encouraged me to trek to a few greenhouses and buy the foliage that will adorn the balcony during the summer. One of my early favorites is the dragon wing begonia, which I grew last year.

This year, the begonia was in a hanging pot, flowering, and I chose to start big. Other selections have included ladies’ purse, impatiens, alyssum, torenia, fuschia, black-eyed susan vine, and a couple others. I’ll share additional photos when everything has had a chance to grow a bit, as I didn’t go big with the rest.

The weather also took me out on the bike, which you all knew it would. Not as much as I’d like due to other stuff and weather, but three local adventures are better than none. It was interesting to see that in a matter of a week, many trees went from bare to leafy green or flowering. It’s amazing what a few days in the 70’s and 80’s can do for spring renewal.

Then there’s Gibbs.

Naughty, naughty Gibbs.

Normally, I have to keep crunchy plastic things out of his way as he’ll chew the heck out of them, but he has now found paper envelopes. This envelope is for a wedding card and thankfully, the bride knows Gibbs well. I’m going to take the advice of a couple of friends and write “Gibbs sends his congratulations” with arrows pointing to the holes. Since the happy couple have both a dog and cat, I foresee a laugh of understanding when they open the envelope.

Most often, Gibbs behaves himself, probably because the time he sleeps and eats and watches the birds takes up more time than the boring hour that he finds an envelope or tries to sneak into the kitchen. He has been going out on the patio more often since he has spaces that allow him to hide and relax and ponder the meaning of life.

In addition to TV/Food/Wine Thursday with Natasha, which has turned into a bi-weekly quest to find and try new recipes (the Greek kabobs are delish), I’ve been back to volunteering with Loaves & Fishes, packaging take-out meals and helping with the flower garden once planted.

Then there’s physical therapy for my back, physical training with a trainer (I got too soft and weighty over winter) and sessions with the chiropractor and massage therapist to keep myself upright and moving. I’m a lot of work these days. The older I get, the more my body likes to swear at me and be resistive. So, I keep fighting back.

Got the Medicare card in the mail, so I’m officially old in September, I guess. Don’t feel my age, regardless of what I wrote, but will enjoy a free gym membership (when I decide to go back to a gym) and perhaps find a few other benefits from age.

So, that’s it for the latest and greatest from yours truly. The next six or seven weeks will continue to be busy as Memorial Day weekend is coming up, Natasha and I are engaging in Iron Chef with another friend, Natasha’s daughter is getting married and biking buddy and I will be headed to Missouri for our biking trip.

I’m hoping that July will be a bit more serene and I can write with more frequency about adventures and misadventures, and whether or not Gibbs continues to offer congratulations to others with his teeth.