Category Archives: Free time

January 1st, 2017

We finished 2016 with a bang, and started 2017 with a road trip. 

We both got the chance to see our favorite artists on the stage. We enjoyed the fireworks, and had fun last night. It was actually more fun than spending the New Years at home or at a restaurant. 

It was cold! But it was totally worth it. It was less fussy as well. No need to worry about guests and if they are having fun. No need to clean afterwards. No need to dress up for the occasion. For me, that was the best ever.

2017 had a good start. We had our January 1st road trip to our parents (at the country side). Pluto enjoyed himself. There was snow and he had playmates. The food was also good. In fact, in the last week we had only homemade food. I guess we’re starting the New Year with a few extra pounds as well. 

Pluto Snow

I actually had fun and even got the chance to rest. I couldn’t ask for more. 

Dogs in Snow

I hope the good times will keep on rolling this year and that we won’t stress out so much because of work. I hope that we’re going to make lots of happy memories. 2017 has a good start so far. I am very hopeful of what is to come. 

2017 List

I like having my own little traditions! This particular tradition is very dear to me! It goes hand in hand with the blog, with everything that happens around me and of course with my relationship with Johnny.

So, without further ado, here is what I wish to accomplish in 2017 (in no particular order):

Put away money each month (even if it is just a small amount).
Read 50 books (find new authors).
Take 3 separate vacations outside the city.
Take better care or myself and the way I dress.
Organize my time and tasks better, both at home and at work.
Upgrade my skills.
Get my drivers license.

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I can’t wait to see where the new year takes us. It might not be to luxurious destinations, but I am sure it will be a good year with lots of fun things to come. I am not wishing that. I know for sure, since I plan on taking advantage of each day no matter how tired I may be.

We will be reaching a milestone. We will both turn 30 and we will celebrate our 10th year together. Just thinking about all the years and adventures we had, makes happy and full of hope for a better future. 

May we all have a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2017

Source of gif 

December 30th, 2016

The end of 2016 is very near. Two more days..

This will be the last day of work for me, for 2016 that is. After working 7 days in a row (on all the shifts possible), I am waiting for the weekend to come. I am happy that I don’t have to work for New Years. It would’ve been too much for me. 

We don’t have any plans for New Years. Truthfully, I don’t want to make any plans. Sleeping seems like a good option. I would love to just sit around all day and do nothing. Absolutely nothing!

2016 is almost done. And, I’m done as well. 

For the first time in many years, we are going to start the New Year with no baggage (no financial responsibilities, no task left undone). We even have money in our pockets. That is the best we’ve done in ages!

Even our furry friends are doing great. Sure, they are a bit chubby (from the lack of exercising) but healthy nonetheless. 

Pictures of Creness

I am also happy that I finished a few personal goals. Not only did I finish my reading challenge, but I read a total of 61 books (the goal was 50). I got promoted (even if I hate every moment of it). The fact that they can’t fire me, makes it a lil bit better (since we are severely understaffed). It gives me time to plot my escape and even set some money aside. 

January will be a time of relaxation for me. 

I guess I am happy, in a very tired way. At least I am tired from manual labor and not anything else.

Getting ready for Christmas

We are getting ready for Christmas, slowly but surely. 

Marlanu and the Christmas tree
Marlanu and the Christmas tree

We have a lovely Christmas tree. It is not perfect, but it is so pretty. It smells nice as well. 

And that’s about all we have ready for Christmas.

We don’t have any grand plans. In fact, we have no plans at all for the winter holidays. I shall be working on the night shift for Christmas, but I will have the last days of the year free. I call that a good bargain. 

At least I will be starting 2017 at home, with my family. I couldn’t ask for more. It seems kinda dull, but we have barely spent time together this last couple of months.

We have missed on a lot of opportunities to have fun and enjoy ourselves. 

I want to change it all in 2017. 

 

Yes, it is going to be one of those days.

Having the weekend off made me feel like I was on vacation. It was such a weird feeling.

That feeling didn’t last long, anyway.

Realizing that this week I will be on the afternoon shift, killed every spark of hope in me. I will have to socialize with certain people. I will have to socialize with them for the entire week (including the upcoming team building). What’s worse is that next week, I’ll be on the afternoon shift as well. So, 12 days per total. 

I don’t think I have it in me, the patience to spend time with these people. Not for such a long period of time.

If that isn’t bad enough, just found out that someone broke into our temporary car. 

Our car (Volvo S80) is currently in service. It has been in service for the last 2 weeks. The temporary car is just a basic model (Dacia Logan), for John to get to and back from work. We’ve had the Volvo for 4 years or so, and no one broke into it. We’ve had the Logan for 2 weeks and this happened. 

They didn’t even had anything to take from it. We don’t leave anything in the car. A simple glance through the windows would’ve confirmed this. 

Did I also mention that something else broke in the house? 

Yes, it is going to be one of those days. I don’t care if it is Monday or not. It really doesn’t matter. All I know, is that our week didn’t start off that well. 

I am still gathering courage to go to work.

27 days left till the new year

With the last of our social obligations coming to an end, we can happily say that we have no more plans for the Winter Holidays.

There are 27 days left till the end of the year.

I want to say that in those 27 days I will be able to do whatever I want. But, that’s not the case.

My shifts will be a mix of afternoon and night. I will also be away on team building next weekend. On the 24th, 25th and 26th of December I will be on the night shift. I am fine with that. By working the Christmas shift, I secured New Years.

Yes, the year shall end on a positive note. I will not be working on the last weekend of the year.

I shall start 2017 in bed, most likely watching the Vienna concert. For me, that is blissfulness.

I don’t know how 2017 will be. But I do know two things: I will start the year with no debts and no obligations towards no one. No strings attached. That is a fresh new start.

With a full paycheck in my pocket, I will be able to do more things than in previous years. In fact, it will be better for the both of us. We both have jobs with a good paycheck (no matter what anyone else says). Hard work, effort, giving up on many things (including our personal time), paid off. 

I guess I am a little bit happy. It’s just that I am tired, and that happiness doesn’t come out as it should. 

Another weekend bites the dust

I can barely bring myself to type after this weekend. My hands are refusing to work as they normally should.

It is not pain that I feel, but numbness. My fingers are numb and tingly. Two days in a row of constant typing. I never want to do this again.

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This is Friday for me. I have one more night shift and then I will be able to enjoy my during the week weekend. I have no idea what I will do with my free days. My mind is telling me that a cleaning would be the best option, as the house is not looking so well. Yet, my entire body is yelling that sleep and slacking around would be best.

It is a tough decision.

I really envy Pluto and Marlanu’ in these cases. They have no moral dilemmas of their own. They just sleep, eat, play around and some more sleep.

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I can’t wait for December to come. I also want snow and pretty things to shine and sparkle on the streets. The mood for this weather is gloomy and sad. We could really use some cheering up. 

That and more sleep. In fact, I will add this to my 2017 list: Get more rest / sleep

Yes. There will be a 2017 list. I am not sure what the list will contain, but I will make one. I will make a lovely and achievable list for next year. Which, I hope I won’t have to start off by working. Chances for that to happen: 80%. 

We shall live and see.

Blabber

It is starting to get colder. 

In a way, I wish it would snow already. Yet the more practical side of me doesn’t want it. Not now.

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I have a lot of nice memories with a winter background. I want to make many more. 

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I have about three hours before I go to work.

I dislike the afternoon shift. It is not because the work volume is bigger than on any other shift, but because of all the people that are in the office. I hate having to smile and say hello to everyone. I dislike most of them because they make our job more miserable than it already is.  

I am not good at hiding my emotions either. 

So, I just pass by with my head down. Or, I pick the hours when I know no one is around. 

Even so, my biggest dislike sits right behind me. I cannot hide from that. 

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I am thinking of starting a new list for December.

It will contain mostly things that need to be done (like house chores). It will be a good distraction for me (from my job and anything else that might be a downer). In a way it will help me sort things out in the house as well. 

It has been a while since I cleaned and organized things. I think that it would also be a lot of fun. Losing myself in the process, and even listening to a good audio book while I work away. 

I must pick a weekend when I am home alone and a good audio book. This way no one will bother or distract me.

Random afternoon thoughts

It is funny how the end of the year keeps getting closer. It feels like just a few days ago it was summer, and I was waiting for autumn to come. 

I can honestly say, I haven’t felt the last couple of months. Everything feels like a blur or work and sleepless nights. In fact, the next period will carry on in the same manner. I am trying to come to terms that the winter holidays are coming soon, and I might not get the chance to enjoy them. In fact, I should be making plans on how to make my holidays more enjoyable at work.

But then again, the holidays will come and go just like the rest of it all. The lack of plans and effort seems like the best way to go.

While work might’ve occupied most of my time and thoughts, I have made time to read and stitch. I made amazing progress with one of my stitching projects. It still has a long way to go before it will be finished, but it will be finished. Slowly, but surely. Just like everything else that has happened this year.

After 5 years I have completed my reading challenge. Not only that, but I exceeded it and still have plenty of time to spare till the end of the year. In a way, reading has been a great comfort to me. It has provided a good reason to interact with my colleagues (a safe topic of discussion that cannot be used against me). It has also been a refuge from the constant nagging in the back of my head that I am not in the best of places (as far as work is concerned). 

I have read so many wonderful books this year! 

It makes me feel sad that I didn’t think to try new things sooner. I have learned that I enjoy fantasy a great deal, that adventures that take place on hundreds of pages are the most amazing, and that books can influence so much one’s state of mind. In a way, books have been a lifesaver for me. They kept me sane, with so many things going on. 

Well, I can’t say it has been such a horrible year. After all, I accomplished more (in terms of importance) this year than any before. For me, that speaks volumes. When the new year comes, I can truly say that it will be a fresh start. I will not have any luggage from the past to hold me down. 

That is a comforting and happy thought. 

I’ve worked hard this year to fix all past mistakes, next year I should work hard on building up a good base for our future. 

 

Early morning thoughts

I woke up this morning, and the first thing that came into my mind was stitching.

I haven’t stitched for a very long time. It felt weird to wake up and want to pick up the floss and just stitch. Stitching is one of my favorite hobbies, but I haven’t had the time for it. I guess I’ve been focused on so many things that I forgot that I have hobbies of my own.

I think I will indulge in some stitching today. It is my day off, after all.

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I’ve also decided that I should quit Facebook for a while. In fact, I really don’t know I even bother to go there. If I really miss someone, or need to talk to someone I can always call.

There are a lot of things that are really useless to me right now. There are a lot of ways in which I waste time. Considering there are three and a half months left of the year, and time isn’t slowing down I don’t want to regret anything at the end of the year.

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I’ve also taken the decision to postpone any job change in the near future. I actually turned down the offer that was made to me. I don’t regret it, maybe the fact that I disappointed the person who recommended me. But, it is my choice no matter what and I will stay by it.

Another important decision: weekends are weekends! I will not go to work on my days off, no matter what.