Surreal

 It is Thursday. I just checked my watch to confirm. It is wonderful living each day without having to look forward to the weekend. I am settling into a routine, which was something I had thought about and planned before retirement. I watch a few minutes of news when I wake up, just to get the weather forecast. I then do my yoga, make my coffee, and then sit out on the deck to drink it. I then refill the bird feeders, water plants and pick any ripe veggies I have. I tend to have a wonder around the yard, pulling weeds or pruning any plants that need it. On Tuesday, I pruned my front hedge, mowed the yard, and then did the trimming and edging. This took most of the morning and I replaced my afternoon workout with this. I took a nap instead. What a luxury to take a nap! It all still feels a bit surreal though knowing I don't have to ever go back to work. 

I do spend about an hour on the computer at some point during the day. Emails, social media, Nepali language lesson, and then of course this blog. After my upcoming Colorado trip I will start my TEFL certification course (online) and that will add about an additional hour a day online. I will also start some landscaping projects and a whole list of chores I have been putting off. My tent needs cleaning and some repairs. It took a beating from the wind in Big Bend this past February and one of the tie-down fasteners tore loose. I also need to go through my camping gear and get it organized and re-packed before my November trip to Guadalupe Mountain N.P. 

My fitness workouts are going really well. I did an hour on the stairmaster on Sunday. Full workouts Saturday and Monday. Yesterday I concentrated on the treadmill - 4 miles total with nearly 3 miles at 15% incline. Today will be the full workout and I'm planning tomorrow to do an hour on the stairmaster. 

The weather is looking good for Colorado and I am getting mentally prepared to do a double ascent of the Manitou Incline in one day. I'm feeling mostly confident, but I know it will be a challenge. The plan is to start the first hike at 4:30 am and catch the sunrise at the top. Once we descend, we will take a break, get something to eat then go back up starting by 10:00 am. Success will mean I can confidently book my Inca trail trek for next April. 

Wish me luck!

Like a kid waiting for Christmas

 Three days, 4 hours and counting down. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I'm spending my work hours just wrapping things up. I'm sending all new requests to other people that will be either temporarily or permanently taking on my duties. It's a bit of a mess as no one knows what is going on and who will be doing what. My position as it is now, is being eliminated. No surprise there as the title and job duty change was made just to push me out of here a bit sooner. My position is being transferred downtown and while it will still do some of my current duties it is going to be the Executive Assistant to the Director of Marketing ( the b***ch that pushed me out). The replacement starts next week. She will get no training from me, and I don't think anyone else here really knows what all I do and how to do it to show her. But you know what? It's not my problem! 

I was chatting online with Alpaca Expeditions earlier. I needed to confirm how they handle solo travelers. They only charge an additional $30 for a single occupancy of the tent. Very doable! I will need to book before the end of the month as the Inca Trail permits are released in October for 2026. April isn't the busiest month but since I might need to be flexible on my dates I wanted to get it in early. Once I have confirmation then I can start looking at flights. I had a glance at them today and the flight plus two nights hotel was right around $1000.00. 

I am wanting to wait until after I return from Colorado to book this just in case my attempts to to a double on the Manitou Incline are a total bust, then I will know I need to look into the Lares trek or just a overnight Inca trail trek. My goal though is of course the 4-day Inca Trail Trek.

I only had a normal 2-day weekend this past one, so I didn't get three workouts in like I had been the previous five weeks. Saturday was my usual Stairmaster, Treadmill, Rower. On Sunday I just did a full hour on the Stairmaster. That was just over 3000 steps.  Starting this weekend and going forward it gets serious. Seven days a week at the gym or on the trails. No excuses. It will be a challenge as I will have to increase my calorie and protein intake. I have been looking at some changes and additions to my diet. Over the past month my weight drops a few pounds on the weekends after my workouts and then increases back up a few pounds during the week. Right now I swing between 115 - 118 lbs. I really need to stay there or even gain a few pounds before I go to Nepal. The EBC trek burns a lot of calories and the altitude can suppress the appetite so most people lose quite a bit of weight. 

So I guess this will be my last pre-retirement post. Woo hoo hoo! 

Time is slowing down...

 One more week. I hope it goes faster than this past week has. I only had a four-day work-week but it feels like I've been here for six. The days are dragging, I just sit and dream about walking out of here and creating a new beginning. Living life on my terms. I am so beyond ready. 

I am ready to take my workouts to the next level. I have hikes planned that will challenge me and are harder and longer than any I have ever done. I am going to travel to places that I want to see and do things I want to do... solo (well my daughter might join me occasionally). 

I am getting excited again about my trips to Peru and Nepal. Confidence is returning and the self-doubt and nerves are abating.  will be stepping well outside my comfort zone for both of those trips, but I am confident that they will be amazing adventures and experiences. I also realized that in exactly one year I will be on my way to Nepal. It has been eleven months since I committed to my volunteer position in Nepal. It has passed by quite quickly. I'm sure the next twelve months will fly by. 

This past weekends workouts were good. I had three days due to the holiday so I really pushed myself. 

Saturday  - 1 hour Stairmaster (3000+ steps) 40 minutes treadmill, 20 minutes rower

Sunday - 1 hour and 30 minutes treadmill ( 1 hour at 15%) 10 minutes rower

Monday - 40 minutes Stairmaster, 1 hour treadmill, 20 minutes rower.

I had wanted to go hiking on Monday, but heavy rains on Sunday meant the trails would be slick and muddy. 

Impatiently waiting... one more week.