WHEW! I'M GLAD THAT'S OVER!

I must admit, I've been in a funk.

I suppose the fact that I didn't sell much at the Horse Expo
AND I haven't sold anything at the Art/Antique place, didn't help.
What was really getting to me though was, how I was living my life.

It was getting to me, working at the kennel, taking care of all the pets
and doing through the same thing each morning and evening at home.
In between I had spent every moment working on my Art for these 2 places
and then I suddenly felt as though I had taken 3 big leaps forward
and then slipped off the path and was stuck in the mud.

I try to be optimist and I know I have so many friends out there urging me on
to keep going
but suddenly I just wanted to come home and do nothing.
I wanted to unplug and relax.
I mostly stayed off Facebook and Instagram except to idly thumb through images on my phone.

I felt like my life was just repetition and not fun.

There are a few positives that happened.
There is a new woman veterinarian at the clinic.
I actually know her,  not very well, but she was at the first clinic that I worked at.
I worked very early mornings then and she would be coming in as I was leaving.
I'm not sure if she remembers me or not.
Right now she's taking over all of Doc's surgeries except the bone ones.
He said that he brought her in as part of his plan to scale back.
He wants to just attend to his long time clients who request him
and of course all of his clients that need chiropractic adjustments
and ultimately just do chiropractic care
but he said he's not going anywhere for a while.
I made the comment the other day to my vet tech friend that I plan on Blue being around for another 20 years and he turned and said he wouldn't be around THAT long (he's Blue's vet) and that he'd be retired by then... (Doc is 2 1/2 years older than I).

And talking about age.
I've hired a new boarding person because one of my workers will be graduating soon from college and moving to Portland, Oregon.
I think everyone was very surprised as to who I hired.
Before I hired him, I told Doc that I had an applicant who the girls said was OLD.
I said that he wasn't old and then I told Doc the year that the applicant had graduated High School.
Doc was startled and said that was the year HE graduated and I said,
Yeah! See he's not old!
Truth be told, they might be the same age but if you put them next to each other, you would never guess it.
Doc looks many years younger but I think he has a young mind frame and that makes a big difference.
SO I hired a man who's older.
He's still working full-time and he has a cat that he loves to talk about but he said he needed to fill his off time and and he misses having a dog
and he has a work ethic.
My niece was worried about a man doing the job, because sometimes men can be a bit rough or harsh with animals but one day as she was leaving work she spied him through the window and saw him playing with one of the cats with a toy and then he stopped and hugged the cat and then went on his way to the dog kennels.
Lily called me right afterwards and said she liked that guy.
So there's that.
Although once the college girl leaves, I'll be working 6 days a week... at least for a while.

So all this good stuff and I was still dragging my feet.
I started devising alternative career plans.
I thought about caring for dogs in my home, just smaller dogs
and marketing the fact that they would be in a home environment.
Then I realized I have a full plate right now, several are elderly and
then there's Blue.

So I discarded that idea.... at least for now. Maybe as a side job in retirement, but not NOW.

Then I decided to open a Cat Cafe.
A place where I'd serve, coffee and teas.
Smoothies and tasty treats.
I'd have big comfy chair where people could lounge and read or work on their laptops.
And there would be cats.
Sweet sociable cats, Cats to relieve stress and comfort.
Maybe a big screen in the back area and big floor cushions to lay on and have movie nights....
But after talking with my sister about all the expenses to furnish the place, the rent, the little kids that would want to come in and run after the cats and...
Yep, nixed that idea too.

I did have a great talk with my sister though.
We had met for our monthly breakfast get-together at my favorite family-owned breakfast joint.
I wish we could do that more often.
Afterwards I drove her by a house in the neighborhood we grew up in.
It's for sale and needs A LOT of work but sits on an acre of land.
On either side of it, sits big gorgeous homes and the property taxes would probably be at least 5K a year.
Yep, out of the question.
Then we drove by a house that I've always loved and is now for sale.
It's only four blocks down and one block over from me.
I said to her that I would probably be stupid to move so close to where I live right now.
She didn't think it was dumb, not if I was moving to something better.
So, anyway-
The house is small with a little breezeway going to the attached garage and a nice level backyard.
Usually my sister is pretty bland in her responses about houses I find but she loved this one.
She said that if there was an Open House the next day (Sunday) she would go with me!
She NEVER wants to go to Open Houses.
So I went home and looked it up and found that it was "Sale Pending".
Sigh, Oh well.... it's not like my own home to sale ready.
It needs many many repairs and major de-cluttering.

So... I went to the library.
I checked out a bunch of children's books and poured over the illustrations.
Suddenly I wanted to start drawing again.
I'm going to re-write my Kanga book and making it less wordy.
But I've got clear ideas in my head about it.

I'm then going to start on my Blue book(s).
One for any age and also a series for kids about some of his adventures.
And I can see it in my head!
I'm dropping my altered photos and moving forward on the illustrations.
I'm working on simple little cards and prints and putting them for sale on my blog
and Etsy.

I ordered a couple of books off of Amazon about
non-traditional retirement ideas and also about de-cluttering and why a person accumulates so much in the first place and can't let stuff go.

Then the weather turned and it suddenly was nice outside.
I worked outside for a bit and finally was able to breathe.
Literally and figuratively.
I had forgotten how much I missed working outside, it's garden therapy.
I texted my sister that maybe I'll grow and sell cut flowers!!!
She didn't respond but I think I wear her out with my grand schemes and ideas.
She's probably just waiting to see if I change my mind again!
But whatever!
At least I'm full of ideas and motivated again!

Doing the Dirty Job

Sometimes I think about getting a different job.

Yes, I've been trying to work on my Art and my childrens book about Kanga.

and I need to work more on my illustrations and 

GET MYSELF OUT THERE.

I just don't seem to be able to find enough time.

I also have to remember not to jump out of the frying pan in the fire.

and then there's the fact that I'm not a Spring Chicken.

source

Also I must keep in mind that I have no safety-net, spouse or parents to fall back on.

I'm not whining. I'm just stating facts and trying not to do anything foolish.

Sure, it would be great to follow my passion

and do what I love.

But I do, do what I love.

I mean I LOVE my boarders (well, most of them)

and I'm basically happy doing it.

But...sometimes, I don't know.

I daydream about life being a bit different.

I saw this great video with Mike Rowe

talking about "Following Your Passion"

and how not everyone can do that. 

That someone has to do the dirty work.

and how there is honor in dirty work, doing a job that needs to be done

and doing it well.

He talked about how trade school has low enrollment, that no one wants to do a trade anymore.

He has started a program trying to get people back to Trade School.

Actually his video was about much more than that.

It was excellent and it's HERE

A girl that works for me has just finished her Associates and is ready to move on to a 4yr college..

I've tried to give her suggestions, ideas.

The old "Do as I say, not as I do" deal.

She and my niece are facing the same questions.

I recommended going into Physical Therapy and then specializing in Animal Therapy.

Or maybe Human Resources. Most places need a Human Resource person and there's money there, I think.

Or be a Librarian. Most of the librarians I talk to seem happy.

(except that old mean one, but she would probably be unhappy whatever she was doing.)

source

or a Paralegal. I always read they are in demand and make a good wage.

Or a Chiropractor, although the market is saturated here, since this where the college is located.

or.... 

OK, I'm no help.

The girl is a very good writer and my niece draws fabulous characters.

I've urged them both to pursue these talents and they both say there's no money in it.

Or that EVERYONE is trying to do that.

Yeah, no kidding.

I suppose I'm just questioning things because I'm tired.

It's been raining cats and dogs at the kennel.

It's packed and this year suddenly I have A LOT of cats boarding too.

More than I ever have had.

Cats who need to be given fluids daily 

and cats who are so mean they have to be under anesthesia to get vaccinations.

Luckily, I love cats.

...I would never want to go back to retail.

I always feel bad for people that do

and I sign petitions so that maybe they won't have to work Holidays 

and yet, here I will be this Christmas, bundling up and driving through the snow,

(hopefully it won't be the 8 inches that are predicted)

to take care of a FULL HOUSE.

I suppose I could go back to school.

Maybe I'd qualify for some grants? I certainly wouldn't take out any loans.

Yeah, get a degree a couple of years before retirement.

And compete for a job against 20 somethings.

Jeez, I need a little cheese to go with all this "whine".

I have quite the pity party going on here!

Then again, I need to remember that the other day when Twinkle had the side of her nose swell up

I was able to bring her with me to work and get an antibiotic and just pay for THAT.

The same thing with Blue's abscess.

To say nothing of the time the pole feel on Rosie

or Ruby falling over and having heart problems

or when Button got her eyes popped out of her head

or Griffin having that tumor thing explode in his mouth

or Jimmy throwing out his back and needing several Chiropractic adjustments and muscle relaxers and pain pills.

Yeah. I saved a fortune by working there.

I need to shut up and be grateful.

VERY GRATEFUL.

To be grateful for what I have and

to just get some rest

and not think so much.

To be frugal and

to just be happy.