Monday Morning Meanderings

Hello and welcome to September!  Today is the celebration of the American holiday, Labor Day, which was designed to be a holiday for and celebration of the blue collar workers of America as well as the last hurrah of Summer.  If you are celebrating this holiday, I hope it has been fabulous so far and will continue to be.  It has been raining all night here, and if it continues throughout the day, it could put somewhat of a damper on the backyard barbecues which are a big part of the holiday celebration.  As usual, I am working tonight like on most holidays.  The retail industry in general and convenience stores in particular do not shut down for a holiday.  Rather they think of ways to entice people into shopping for bargains as entertainment while most people have time off from working.  Great multitudes of people take advantage of the sales before heading home to gather with family and friends for the aforementioned barbecues.  As I have to work, I probably will not be out shopping for entertainment, saving my energy for my time at work.  

September also marks a new beginning of sorts for me.  August was the first month of my eligibility for my Social Security Retirement Benefits with the first payment due to be paid on the 4th Wednesday of this month (9/25/2013) and subsequently on  the fourth Wednesday of every month thereafter as long as the Wednesday is not a holiday.  For example, Christmas Day is on Wednesday this year so the payment will be received on Tuesday, Christmas Eve instead.  I am not actually going to totally retire, but continue to work a somewhat less than full time schedule, so I guess you would say I am semi-retiring.  I would probably be very bored if I did retire to sit in rocking chair on the porch.  I would rather continue to work while I can, making it easier to save towards the time that will come when I can no longer work for a living.  As I am in reasonably good health, I do not see that happening for quite a few years yet unless something happens to change that.  With the increase in income, it has become necessary to formulate a plan so that I do not needlessly squander the opportunity to make my life better.  I will cover The Plan in a later post to give it the detail it deserves.  

Over the weekend, as it would seem appropriate, I have finished off my Summer Reading List and caught up on all the latest chapters of the serialized stories I am following at GA and CRVBoy.  Lest I become bored in my off time from work and needing something to read, I have begun rereading Circumnavigation by author C James at GA.  With over 150 chapters, it should occupy me for some time into the future.  Like any great piece of favorite literature, it is fun to relive the adventure found within this excellently written tale.  I am sure this will not be the only time I reread Circumnavigation.

Your Monday Musical Moment features the music of Frederic Chopin with his complete set of Waltzes as interpreted by the late Sergio Fiorentino.  They were recorded in 1958 and released under the pseudonym Paul Procopolis after Fiorentino's death in 1998.  Included in the play list are Waltz in A flat Op Posth; Waltz in A minor Op Posth; Waltz in E minor Op Posth; Waltz in B minor Op 69 No 2; Waltz in D flat Op 70 No 3; Waltz in A minor Op 34 No 2; Waltz in E flat Op 18; Waltz in G flat Op 70 No 1; Waltz in A flat Op 34 No 1; Waltz in A flat Op 69 No 1; Waltz in F Op 34 No 3; Waltz in A flat Op 42; Waltz in E flat Op 70 No 1; Waltz in A flat Op 70 No 2; Waltz in D flat Op 64 No 1; Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64 No 2; Waltz in A flat Op 64 No 3; Waltz in E minor Op Posth and Waltz in E flat Op Posth.  Following the play list is this week's sultry selection of muscly men lounging about the page in the finest Monday's Undies for your visual inspection and appreciation.  Thanks for spending part of  your holiday with me.  See you again tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!