Breakfast of a homemade croissant and freshly roasted coffee.
She bakes excellently, I roast well enough.
Personal Note
Best Part of Retirement
Less stress.
I’m now sleeping through the night almost every night.
Valentines Day for a Vegetarian
My wonderful wife has been a vegetarian for over 40 years. Like so many I planned a special Valentine’s Day meal.
We went to a BBQ place. She ordered one of their signature platters and loved it.
How so? The place was Homegrown Smoker, a vegan BBQ joint. BBQ purists are rolling their eyes at this oxymoron. The rest of us are just enjoying the fantastic food there. The fu-fish (nori breaded tofu) is better tasting than the fried fish you’ll find in some places. The gritz stix, deep fried cheesy grits, are a solid delight on their own. Homegrown Smoker has a variety of protein sources. Anyone with a bit of open mind can find one to taste.
First Loaf
Many people obsess on their 401(k) and IRA balances when preparing for retirement. They would do well to obsess on activities. This was central to my planning. The finances were on auto-pilot. The what to do and when to do it took a lot more thought. It’s more personal than financial planning. We each have a fairly unique set of interests.
One of the activities I’ve planned is more cooking. Lots more cooking. This loaf, Irish Soda Bread, is a start. I’ve not baked bread in years, may be even decades.
Learning to Walk
After three months the doctor says, “you can walk. Take it easy. Start around the house.”
After three months it’s not easy. The right leg is weak. Coordination is lost. Balance is not certain.
After three months there are small pleasures to enjoy. Standing up in the shower beats using a bench, even if I’m wobbly when leaning my head back to rinse shampooed hair. Getting out of bed onto feet that can be used to go to the bathroom instead of onto a bench to strap on a boot.
After three months I’m learning to walk like a normal adult and returning to normal life.