(morning writing, observe)

[elainegrey]

Written on Sunday

I hope everyone has had a happy solstice, particularly for the northern hemisphere and the beginning of lengthening days.. For us it was our 33rd anniversary, which we observed with an installation of Michael J. Schumacher's "LIVING ROOM PIECES":

Composer Michael Schumacher, a pioneering figure in the field of spatial audio and algorithmic composition, presents Living Room Pieces, a long-form sound piece intended for the home environment. This edition of Living Room Pieces, specially crafted for Chaikin Records, comes as a custom-etched metal box housing a Raspberry Pi computer.

I'd also bought Christine some sparkly jewelry before we agreed that "LIVING ROOM PIECES" would be a memorable experience to add. I've not bought her enough sparkles over the years, while she has bought some for me. I wish i had -- but so often she's wanted something music adjacent (instruments, pedals, mixing boards). Anyhow, i think she liked them.

We had a lovely dinner and watched Dune Part 2. Christine saw it in the theater and for some reason i got a block on seeing it. Flying home from Boston i watched someone else watch the beginning and realized i would enjoy it. Yesterday was good for that.

I've done some gift shopping, which gets my brain all twisty. I know what i like -- but will others? And who really needs stuff? And will someone think it's junk.... I dunno.

I know these are my problematic thoughts, and having watched The Simpsons episode 'O C'mon All Ye Faithful' which includes Homer having similar thoughts to mine, i am now at least able to point at the thoughts as Homer thoughts. Fixing them, not so great. But hey. I can hold them off a little now.

I did get some local food and drink for Dad: I broke down and used the Bing AI to get advice on which local mead my Dad would like based on his liking Bud Light, Pinot Grigio, and champagne/sparkling wine. Also, local BBQ sauces. Gift certificates for my siblings and their spouses.

Today to write some notes and wrap some things to ship. Late!

I have spent all morning calculating and estimating things about retirement, because i feel so tired off and on. I think it might be plausible to retire in six years. If i wait four years, i can use my employer's insurance while waiting for medicare to kick in: this is pretty valuable, i think, so i really need to wait until then. But waiting another few years and assuming certain financial things, the mortgage could be paid off. (Pause. Perplexity. Goes to recalculate, count, subtract... ah! Fix errors.)  Which is a nice way to get by with less income, because i don't think there will be a substantial decrease in any other expenses due to me stopping work. Hopefully less stress eating occurring.

Comments

[sonia]

Happy anniversary! And yeah, I get similarly stressed about giving gifts.

[elainegrey]

Hope you are enjoying Yuletide - so glad to read about your many cards!

[cmcmck]

Hope you and your have a lovely time.

[elainegrey]

Thank you!

[tamena]

Happy Anniversary! 33 years is an accomplishment worthy of celebrating with sparkly stuff, I'm sure she loved the sparkles

I never thought to use AI for gift ideas, that's brilliant! thank you! I will pass that on to my brother too because I am positive he's never considered it either and he is a "horrible gift giver" in his words
I am the polar opposite, I love getting just the perfect thing for someone - yup a big part of my love language in that one

Today will be The Finishing Of All Things Christmas in this house - and The Annual Watching Of Elf.
I hope you have a wonderfully peaceful next few days

[elainegrey]

Thank you, and i hope you are having a wonderful time too - -haven't caught up to see if there is a syourng one yet

[weofodthignen]

Happy anniversary and Good Yule!

Less travel once you retire, too? But I'm glad your employer is so enlightened about remote work.

[elainegrey]

Thank you and good Yule to you!

I don't feel i have that much travel now for work, so i don't know how that would change. They've not had me up to Ohio since the new executive manager change. I have family i'd like to travel to see, and i did price out how to get to the Bay area by train from here. (3 days, going through Chicago; coach is pretty inexpensive.)

I'm "grandfathered" in to remote work; they have become very Ohio office-centric, the the point of not letting our Sheffield, England office take on new leadership roles or our Houston work at home colleague.

[weofodthignen]

Oh, that's really disappointing, shame on them. They were something of a pioneer of remote work, and that's deeply unfair to the people in Sheffield.

[lyr]

Happy solstice and anniversary!

[elainegrey]

Thank you!

[adore]

I have trouble gifting people because I'm worried about them not being as overjoyed by the gift as I felt at the first moment I thought about buying it for them (before the doubts crept it).

I hope you're able to retire comfortably and soon.

[elainegrey]

Thank you for your wishes! I am very lucky in that my work is good: it uses my skills well, and i believe in the organizations to which my non-profit employer provides services: libraries. Work is just much.