2012

2012

Springfield, PA (until June) and 

Carpenter’s Point, MD

My age: 56- 57

School- I took classes at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (AKA geriatric University).  I took writing courses, photography, photshop and an economics class (which I really enjoyed).

Work

• I am retired but I did volunteer my time to teach in China. I spent a semester at Sias University in Henan Province where I taught leadership skills to young women.  I worked with the World Academy fro the Future of Women.
• During my first year of retirement, I missed my job.  But now, I am over that feeling.  I could never go back to work.  I could never be owned like that again. 

Music- I do not know any current artists or their music.  I am no longer listening to music as I once did.  I looked at this year's top 100 hits and I did not recognize any of the musicians. I have to get back in to music.

Movies

• Argo- I watched this movie twice in one day and I was on the edge of my seat both times.  I watched it a few years later and I was still worried for these foreign service workers.
• Lincoln- This movie answered so many fo my questions about the sequence of events with he Civil War.
• Life of Pi- I read the book and watched the movie twice. I own the movie and took it to my brother's house. My nephews still have it and I want it back.
• Silver Lining Playbook- this was a feel good movie.
• Les Miserables- I loved this play and I loved this movie.  It's an inspiring story.
• Moonrise Kingdom-  I love, love, love all Wes Anderson movies.
• TED- this as a stupid movie.
• Beast of the Southern Wild- this was a great movie that showed that even dysfunctional families can be living families. 
• Away from Her-  OMG, i needed to take anti-depressants after watching this sad movie.

Books- I stopped reading books as much as I used to do.  Now, I listen to audiobooks.  I am commuting between Philadelphia and Carpenters' Point, MD on a regular basis so I pick up a new audiobook each week at the library. I mostly listen to nonfiction and travel/adventure books.  I love a good story of adventure.

Travels 

• ·      I took William, my nephew, with me for a week- long trip to Germany and Austria. We hung out with my German friends in Munich.
•      I taught in China for a semester at Sias University for the World Academy for the Future of Women.  During this time, I got to Beijing, The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors, Long Man's Cave and other sights in the country. 
• ·      I walked 50 miles of the Camino de Santiago in Spain; 
• ·      I drove to Nova Scioto, Canada to visit with Judith Wilde and her husband. 

News Events

• The Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre rocked the country in to despair as 20 children were gunned down at their school.  Hurricane Sandy deviated the east coast.  Long Beach Island, where my family once had a home, was ripped apart by the wind and the water.
• Obama is re-elected as President of the United States.  I think he is one great president.
• Obamacare became available which saved my health insurance coverage.
• Same Sex Marriage was ruled legal by the Supreme Court.

Family and friends

•     My nephew, John, was living in Germany where he coached professional basketball. The EU leagues mandate that each team be limited to two Americans. Since John was the coach, he could only have one American on his team.  They were doing poorly and John stepped in late in the season and turned things around substantially.  Their new success rate saved their standing in the league.  And at the end of the season, the owners released John so they could hire another American player. They thanked John for his service and told him that they hoped he understood that he got them where they wanted to be and now, they hoped to do even better.
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•        Since I have been back from China, I hear from my Chinese students on a regular basis and it is great to hear from each and every one of them.
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• o      I sold my house in Springfield and moved permanently to Carpenter’s Point, MD. It was a relief to sell the bigger house and downsize to something easier to manage. I bought my house in 1999 for $165,000 which I thought was exorbitant.  I sold it for $205,000 which I thought was a steal.
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• o    Selia Wong, on of my Chinese students, spent the summer with me. We explored potential master's degree programs and universities.

M           My COBRA health insurance expired so I had to find insurance on my own and that proved to be a nightmare.

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