Blogmas Day 1: Christmas Tree, Retirement, and Time Blocking

Let’s start Blogmas Day 1 with the Christmas Tree as it was this morning around 5:45 a.m. after we took the dogs out for their morning business. It’s quite pretty to look at in the mornings. You can see me in the mirror there taking the pic. George has wrapped a few gifts already. I have too but they need bows before I can add them under the tree.

Happy December! I’m taking a PTO day. Normally this is the day I go out and shop for George. However, I managed to find all his things this month. And he found a few of them too. So we are going to meet with our financial advisor today. And then go eat at a place I’ve wanted him to eat in Gallatin.

He had a good last day of work yesterday and I didn’t get up this morning until he did so that he could sleep on his first day of retirement. His company had lunch for them. And the day ended after the lunch. He texted me he was free and heading west into the sunset. lol

I stopped at the store on the way home and got champagne, a small chocolate flourless cake, the makings of a nice breakfast bowl this morning, and a retirement card. I knew he already had our meal planned for yesterday, so I planned to fix his breakfast this morning as my retirement gift for him.

Texas Family arrives on Saturday.

Arrangements have been made for Cody’s grandma, so Katy made their flights yesterday. We are picking them up at the airport tomorrow and George will take them to the airport for their flight back on Wednesday. We will get to see them tomorrow and take them to lunch. We may or may not see them Sunday. Playing that by ear. We will see them at visitation Monday evening. George is going to the funeral on Tuesday and will see them. I do payroll that day. So it’s a quick trip but we will get to see them some. They will be coming back (driving in) around Christmastime.

Mom Update

On the phone she seems to be better. Her voice has more energy and determination. She says she is able to walk without the canes but she keeps them near. She said the steroids are helping tremendously.

I made her appointment yesterday for next Thursday. We already have an eye appointment Friday. I’m out of bucket hours to use for either of these appointments and will need to go in early every morning next week. I will likely go in the hole with my bucket hours but I’ll work back out of them. Normally I’m good but I’ve been going in later and not staying much past 8 hours. It’s been stressful lately and I’ve given myself a break. But I’m going to have to get in some extra hours to be fair. Although Lord knows how many hours I worked over when I was in HR, lol. But I’m living in the NOW, so we’ll make it fair for NOW and not worry about what I’ve given in the past. Yes, next week is going to be busy.

December’s OUTLOOK: Many Things to Conquer

I’m really trying to get many of these things done this Month. We’ll see. I also need to make my 1st quarter Bucket List, spell out my goals for next year, decide on my word of the year, and iron out my phrase for the year. So I need a little time for planning for 2024. I have some things documented on Notion . But I need about an hour or two to finish up my thoughts, plan, and finalize things.

I want to review my 2023 goals and grade myself and also film a video for my 2024 goals and vision.

I also want to start using Google Calendar for time blocking a bit. I mainly have been using the iPhone’s reminder app and I will continue using that for my daily reminders, but I’m finding that using google to time block will allow me to see the week at a glance (weekly planning) and be able to better determine clear lines for video editing during busy weeks, Mom care, housecleaning projects, personal time, work time, and when to plug in time for special projects or planning. This means figuring out wiggle rooms around appointments or the special things that impacting our schedule for the week.

I’ve also been a little more specific with my days off in actually putting a time (hour) in the iPhone reminders, taking into consideration each item and how much time it takes. Then I can forward over anything that doesn’t fit that is not important to be done that particular day. That has helped and is in fact kind of a time blocking activity also but on the daily level. That alone helped me figure out time blocking will work great on a weekly level to start out with. There’s just a lot of plates requiring my time and it’s a puzzle each week figuring it out.

I saw a video on time blocking with Google calendar and thought how that could be useful for me. I have been just visualizing it at a glance and guessing. So it’ll take a few minutes to set up initially but week to week I can plan to work on it quickly every weekend to determine my plan.

I also want to create a 12 month at a glance so that activities can be planned for each month a year in advance and spread out. I can see usefulness in that in planning projects. Instead of putting it all in January and not being able to do it all in January and having to roll it over, I can spread it out over the year to begin with and just work on a few each month. Makes total sense. I’m always overwhelmed in January. A fun month of new beginnings but every plate is overwhelmed with new projects for the year: work, personal, YouTube, blog, Mom. Geez it’s just busy.

It’s amazing how every minute of the day is usurped/scheduled. If something comes up that makes me an hour late on anything it just causes a domino impact. It is just amazing. It throws the whole week to be off by an hour everywhere. I pack a lot into each day. And try to squeeze in more, but usually end up rolling many things over into another week. Only the critical things get done – if that.

Ok you know I struggle with the time thing. So I just keep trying to perfect “the game”. 2024 is also a transition year for me as I’m calling it. I will be planning my own retirement for 2025, so I need to get work notes and instructions in order and updated for the new person. That will take most of the year. I will also be planning 2025 in advance, working on my YouTube strategy and goals so I can hit the pavement with that running.

Exciting Times. Every blogmas won’t be this long. I’m just off today! And now I’m off to go get a shower and retirement breakfast bowl cooked for George! He’s in there wrapping gifts. I would like to get the manger scene finished and also the 2nd tree up in the den, and find Christmas placemats. I think there is a box that didn’t make it upstairs. If not I’ll be buying some everyday plastic Christmas placemats. :-O I don’t know where they went!

Ok byyyyyyeeeee.