Williamsburg, VA and "Cry Witch"

We're having a great time in Williamsburg! http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/ Saturday night we went to see "Cry Witch", a witch trial where we got to judge the witch! we acquitted her 42 to 41! I sat right next to the Judge! he's the one in the red in the picture...and no, I'm not the witch...it's the other woman! We had a blast. Today we drove over to VA Beach...beautiful beach and ocean and not quite as tacky as Myrtle Beach! We're here until May 2nd...we're going to go to MD via the Chesapeake Bay and see if it's somewhere we want to go after we leave here! Not sure when we'll be home! I may never get in a plane again! unless it's to go to Ireland except now I've discovered that I'm Scotch-Irish, maybe it's Scotland and Ireland! The Boyd's came from Scotland to Ireland so I'm a bit of a mutt on my biological dad's side! I even have a tartan! Andy and Harley are having fun...Andy has two girlfriends and Harley is getting jealous! There are lots of us old retired people here who stay for longer than a weekend! Still haven't found anyone to play canasta Estelle! This week we're going to spend more time at Williamsburg and do the museums. Thanks goodness for a permanent housesitter!

If you want to be CEO of a company getting ready to set up diagnostic and cancer centers in China, let me know! ...a little strange to turn down opportunities! Woody says I'm finally getting the hang of saying I'm retired!

Hope you all have a great week!

Savannah and Hilton Head and Beyond!

We've had a delightful week in Savannah with a side trip to Hilton Head. My friend Donna always raves about Hilton Head and she's right. It's second to Destin in my book! When I win the lottery, we'll consider it among our favorite places! We saw all the sites of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and had dinner at some fabulous restaurants! We highly recommend Pearl's Saltwater Grill. Thanks to Holly the Park Ranger for the recommendation! We're staying at Skidaway Island State Park and it's fabulous. The setting is serene and wooded...however, the RV is covered with pollen! We're having bad storms tonight so if we don't blow away, it will be washed off we hope! Tomorrow we head to Myrtle Beach!

My Haiga's on the Web!

http://thegreenleaf.co.uk/HP/Duets/01/CH.htm

Check this out! The Haiga Pages! A Directory of Contemporary Haiga Artists!

I've joined a Haiga group and they've accepted and published on the web four of my efforts! We're heading out to take more pictures so I'll be inspired to write more Haiku! I've also started working with my new software, Corel Paint Shop Pro...see what I can do!

I'm Commercial! and I've Started My Book!

I've spent the last few weeks adding photos to Big Stock Photo www.bigstockphoto.com . These are different than the artsy photos I've posted at www.yessy.com/patedens and are a bit more utilitarian. I'm actually selling a few pictures here and there. I've also started a book of my Haiga! That's a digital image plus a Haiku, a traditional Japanese poetry form that involves three lines of 5/7/5 syllables. I'll have to find an agent to tell me if I have any shot at getting it published! So if any of you know an agent, let me know! Just wanted you to know why I've been slow to post! Will let you know how my new career goes!

Travel and No Work!

We're trying to get ready for our great adventure that begins in April! We have a new roommate that will live with us so that we can travel. We're also looking at our summer plans. Perhaps Jackson Hole and Yellowstone? I guess after I pay my taxes I'll know how far we can go! Opryland may be looking good. Just not planning on working much after all. Had great plans to work part time but busy busy busy. And work doesn't fit! I'm really getting into retirement...far more than what I thought! I love it...even more when I talk to my friends who are still working. Last night we went to the Gallatin Senior Citizens Center...we were groupies for Jane and Bill's band. They are our breakfast buds! Will finish later!

Writing and Photography! and Hilliary!

This has been a few fun days! I've uploaded pictures to Big Stock Photo www.bigstockphoto.com since I'm not having any luck with selling on Yessy! www.yessy.com/patedens . Maybe I can sell more as stock photos...we'll see. Maybe people like Flamingos! I've also rewritten an article on an old house renovation that I'm going to try to get published! I just love being creative...still not making any money with my artistic endeavors but I'm not giving up yet!

Just did a phone survey on the 2008 Presidential Elections...Hilliary all the way! My dad would be so proud. Not sure when the work locally will start, but I'll sign up to help! A lot of people are closet Hilliary fans but afraid to be public due to the hassle factor. Regardless...men have screwed up this country for years...maybe it's time for a strong woman. I think of all the fun jokes about had the Wise Men been women, we would have made a casserole, wrapped the presents, baby sat...well, you get the picture! Same for the war on terror...just turn a bunch of us menopausal women loose and things might have been resolved sooner!

The woodman is off at a car show so I get to do my thing! But now, have to go vacuum! What an exciting life I lead in retirement...and I love it! Life is good!

Songwriting?

My latest thought is to write a song...my friends know I sing constantly, and, if I had been brave, would have loved to have been a lounge singer! Just hanging out today with my piano...apparently there is software that will actually assign chords to your words! I thought you actually had to be able to play. I still play for fun but not like I used to play...I can still play a mean hymn! We'll see how this goes. Eventually I guess I'll focus, but right now it's fun to just flit from idea to idea. After being in such a structured world for so long, the freedom is overwhelming. Writing, songwriting, photography, crafts, painting...so many ideas...I just have to pick! Certainly it's a new world! Still can't get excited about consulting...I guess if I ever get bored I'll try to pick up a little more work, but right now, I just don't want too!

Don't You Love the Stock Market?

I just love the fact that I've retired and the market decides to correct! Thank heavens for diversification! Now if the Fed will leave the rates alone! When you come up on retirement, you are told by everyone to develop a plan to pay yourself...my plan consists of an annuity, interest on money in money market or money manager accounts, stocks and bonds in a conservative mix! I have no plans to touch the principal of my money or my 401(k) for a while unless the Fed cuts the rate banks pay and my interest income goes down! Probably the biggest issue after figuring out what to do with all my time is to determine how to pay for life without a paycheck!

When you don't anticipate payday, you are a little more cautious about what you buy...or at least that's what I've found...that and the fact that I need absolutely nothing. Shopping for retirement clothes...t-shirts, jeans and capris...is not at all fun. Our life is so casual that Sam's Club www.samsclub.com is almost becoming more fun to shop for clothes than Chico's! and you all know how much I love Chico's! www.chicos.com Even when I'm doing a little consulting for gas money for the RV (ha ha), leftovers from the corporate job are going to last forever! A black suit, a few blouses and some sweater coats (think Chicos!) will never be wrong and never wear out if you rarely need them!

Well I'm going to go back and watch the market! Certainly don't want to go back to real work!