I Love Presents!!

As you can imagine we have been collecting equipment for our trip for months's...now with one eye on our bulging luggage and the other on our not so bulging muscles, we've really started weeding out the needs from the wants. As I was inventorying our stuff last week the only thing I was wishing I had bought was a AmazonKindle, you know the latest rage in electronics that replaces carrying around a ton of books. Just in the nick of time here comes my family to the rescue...for my big 6-0 my loving family bought me one and presented it to me yesterday...now I'm set...sit on the luggage and zip it up, I do believe we are ready to roll!

Going out in style.

Come Monday it will be assholes and elbows for my last 2 weeks of work. I'd like to go out in style and I'm hoping to make both the store closure and the new store opening smooth and easy. Plans are set so now it's just execution. I have really enjoyed my time in Las Vegas and with NaHoku, and will miss the day to day dynamics of my job. It appears Sheila (my replacement) is going to be a seamless fit. I will miss Val and Mr. T's smiling faces in the morning...However, waking up to the challenges of our trip and my wife's smiling face will be a welcome change.  

Really??? 60! Really?

Lately I found myself smiling alot, I am really looking forward to this time off, enjoying my wonderful (and beautiful) wife Nancy, learning lots of new things and recapturing my old laid back self (which I have misplaced somewhere). Next sunday I turn 60 years old...I gotta admit I never really thought I'd reach this magical but freightening age! My thoughts...Have I really earned all these wrinkles and grey hair, is the level of wisdom in balance?? I think I need another 60 to ponder the last 60. How is it that I feel so young??? I even have all my teeth and hair??? Life has been good to me!! 

Time is moving along

Spent 8 days in Las Vegas training my replacement, we are getting ready to open a new store and closing another...haven't been this busy in a couple years. This is ideal for training...you know...WHAM everything at once!! My employees are responding very positive to their new boss and this looks like a really smooth transistion.
I'm in San Diego today with my son Joshua, Nance and I flew in yesterday. This morning Josh had 2 titanium disks put in to replace a couple of his that are bulging and causing him tremendous discomfort...all went well and the surgeon is very hopeful that his problems will be resolved...he will be enjoying a month of down time recovering. Happy all of this is getting taken care of with 3 weeks to spare before we leave.

For the birds...

Yesterday's dilema...a bird's nest snugly build into one of Jessica's bikes that needs to be moved...no big deal except there are 4 little chicks (Robin's) in the nest. After calling animal control and getting instructions, Nancy and I removed the nest and repositioned it about 3 feet away. Now for the hard part, waiting to see if the mother returns, finds the chicks and continues feeding and preparing them to leave the nest. I had a restless night worrying about my 4 new friends! First thing this A.M. I got up and there the parents were feeding and caring for their little chicksters. One more crisis averted. Now back to moving Jess, finishing up in Vegas, seeing Josh through his operation and preparing for our trip...only 30 days until we leave, but I'm energized!!

Retirement...NOT!

Time is officially running down hill! We were just saying we have a year, and now we have a month!! I find it curious that everyone assumes I'm retiring...OK to set the record straight I'm not retiring...we, along with millions, just lost a huge part of our retirement. Not sure when that (retiring) will happen, if ever. The truth is we are taking this trip in spite of the fact retirement is starring us in the face. I wish for all of you the insanity of doing what you please and spending your savings on something that might truly change you. See you all on the road!