Okay I need to get back on here- because I just noticed that this is week 11 (we are almost done 4 months already in 2012).

Relationship with Friends- Trying to spend lots of time with my friends before leaving including; watching playoff hockey games and homemade hockey yesterday, and a small bonfire. Birthday party (potluck) planned for next weekend. Going to have a girls night too (nails and a couple movies).

Career- Put in my letter for not returning next year. **Need to update my resume.

Home Management or Personal Environment- Had a friend come over yesterday to help me start sorting items for moving. We are down to 70 days and counting.

Financial Management- Personal taxes completed. Been working on my savings account. Paid off all my credit cards. 2 major purchases- my wedding dress and a new laptop.

Time Management- Still working on finding time to do everything (packing, sorting, tossing, going to have a yard sale in June).

Educational Development- Got my acceptance letter for my Master's in Education (part-time) which I will be starting in Sept.

Tina: A couple weeks ago I wrote some notes regarding moving I wanted to pass on to you & I've lost them in the rubble here (paperwork of mail-order medication is like a full-time job; need to balance checkbook; managing our travels--was supposed to visit our daughter last weekend in her new condo to help her decorate but my foot is not following my timeline & I'm in too much pain, which makes me unable to sleep well & then I'm grouchy by the end of the day & I'm still not mobile enough w/boot-cast & crutches so I've rescheduled for mid-June; & then have to stop mail, newspaper, notify credit card company & put "holds" on other things when away...).

Husband off to San Francisco to visit son this weekend.

But here I am rambling again! I see the foot surgeon today to see what the deal is. So I'll have to shave my hairy right leg! It's been over a month since the surgery & I haven't shaved since then! I've called him several times w/worries about not being able to stretch it as I'm supposed to each day (causes pain). I just want to make sure this thing heals correctly so I can get back to walking & hiking. Won't that be grand? It's been a long time since I've even been able to drive or stand to cook dinner.

But the couple things this poor brain can remember for you, Tina, is that here in the U.S. the post office does not forward magazines (you mentioned you had given your new address to the post office) so you will need to call the magazine subscription office or do it on-line to give them your new address, if it is the same where you are.

Also, credit card companies (& student loans or anything "sensitive" like that) will need to be notified individually as they usually have security questions to prove that you are not an identity stealer trying to get your bills sent to a different address so you don't see that there are erroneous charges on them.

Also, order checks w/your new address now so you'll be ready to spend money when you move! If your bank doesn't have a branch in your new location, you'll have to close those accts. & remove contents of your safety deposit box & have that on your "to do" list at your new home. For me, I always had to let my checking acct. "sit" w/no activity for a month as I wasn't EXACTLY sure what my balance was down to the penny (don't tell those precise numbers people around here; I'm pretty close & we have automatic overdraw protection for no charge so if I'm off by 25 bucks I don't worry about it).

And, here when renting it is often common to have to pay a deposit for the gas & electric company & even the water company, as well as to the landlord to protect him/her against damages. Don't know about cable companies for TV or satellite or if you have any of those things. So remember, if that is the case, to get all those deposits back! They don't usually chase you down to give you money (at least not here!).

Your billing address for your cell phone is another one that will probably have to be changed by you individually (I have a security code on my acct.).

There are web sites that have very cheap rates for designing note cards or post cards (less postage here for post cards & cheaper to purchase as there are no envelopes) w/your new address to send to everyone in your address book & they also usually make those sticky address labels so you can order some of those w/your new address (& save on shipping costs by doing it all in one order); then you can carry around a sheet or roll of those w/your new address to give to random people that need them.

I usually make sure I am caught up on all routine medical appts. (dentist; pap smear; eye exam; annual physical; blood tests you may need to get routinely to check for meds like thyroid medication or cholesterol & your hair cut if you like your hairdresser!!). Then you can also ask these various people if they can recommend a new doc or whatever in your new area, if you don't know any. Getting the professional's recommendation from someone who already knows you well saves you a lot of time that starting out from scratch would take trying to find new medical providers, etc. Make sure your insurance info. is up-to-date (again, not sure how that is done in Canada, but imagine you have some kind of identity card). I had to laugh as I had to show my photo I.D. before getting foot surgery & colonoscopy--like someone is going to try to sneak it to get these procedures done FOR FUN!! Maybe I'll try to sneak in for a root canal--never had one of those; I'll need to get a fake I.D.!!

ME: SOCIAL (I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT) & HEALTH

I did go out to dinner w/my husband on Saturday night to celebrate my 58th birthday--just the two of us & it was unique to be out of the house other than the back porch as I don't even go down the driveway to get the mail or newspaper!

I've been to AZ & was home-bound there (had to be in a wheel chair at airport), but that is a beautiful place to be in pain & immobile! Did go out to lunch w/neighbor one day--that was it for the 10 days I was there! Husband is grocery shopping & cooking or picking up take-out.

Been to doc appts. 3 times in the last month! One for blood tests--that was exciting!

Tomorrow I am accompanying a friend who has the unfortunate "job" of driving her 24-year-old son to a psychiatric hospital about an hour away for court-ordered treatment for 2-6 months. He just hasn't been able to get the right meds to help him (the mental illness hit him suddenly when he first went away to college & my friend, his mother, has had her heart broken to see him in such bad shape). He was a normal, in fact, above average teenager in high school w/sports & academics--though he did have bouts of depression & low self-esteem hit him out of the blue, it seemed.

He's been in group homes, & to other facilities & in the hospital for short periods of time, but he needs to be monitored carefully while different medications are being tried out for him & he receives extensive therapy. But, the unbelievable thing is that the group home will not drive him to the hospital. They would have to have the police handcuff him & take him there in the police car "for safety" reasons. Some patients have expressed violent thoughts or behaviors, but he hasn't, other than to himself, so they have a blanket rule about how they transport patients & that is the rule--police car & patient in handcuffs.

So that is why she & I are going to pick him up to take him to the hospital...

Hoping he will get the right treatment at last. Hope is so important.

MY HEALTH:

Also started weight loss group for women who have gained weight on their meds (my meds provider & therapist are running it). It is focusing on Mindful Eating & incorporating small steps towards a more healthy lifestyle. Just started it a week ago & have to keep a food journal to recognize where & when my problem eating behaviors occur (uh, most all the time I eat!! Overeat as the meds somehow make me hungrier once I start eating so I avoid eating pretty much all day until I feel like I'm sick to my stomach, have a headache & going to faint--not good!). But have been able to cut down fat grams quite a bit w/changing salad dressing. & have done abs DVD to help w/back pain.

Sunshine today so will be able to enjoy the back porch after doc appt.!!--Suzy

Thanks for lots of your advice Suzy- things are slightly different in Canada but I will make a list incorporating many of your suggestions as well.

Yeah, I heard Canada does things differently! Only been there a few times (once for the World's Fair MANY YEARS AGO!) & accompanying my husband on business trips where he has to attend meetings during the day & I get to enjoy myself!

My daughter & son-in-law often fly in from Seattle for concerts in Toronto & thereabouts; he is really into music & she is really into him!

Well--time to hobble around & do a few chores!

Then reward time w/a book!--Suzy

I'm striving to get my life back in balance. THAT has been lacking! It is too easy to focus and just do what I like best (a hobby, and things religion-related) and let the rest "go". As a result, my home has gotten dirtier and unorganized and I've neglected some friendships. So here goes!

Home: I cleaned some floors and a bathroom yesterday. Tossing trash from a file cabinet. Just ETE-ing is enough to keep up with for now until I re-tackle the basement.

Health: I've resumed exercising, only 20 min a day, but it's a start. I already feel SO much BETTER!!! Called in a meds refill to the pharmacy. Trying to cut down on sugar intake.

Friends: I'm emailing some of them and planning to meet up with one next week who is moving away.

Spiritual/Church: check!

Education: Learning about local history, as my ancestors settled close to where I live.

Personal: I may redeem that certificate for a manicure sooner rather than later. Trying to lose a few pounds. Hair needs a cut.

Family: currently care-giving a recuperating post-surgical hubby.
Wrote a letter today to in-laws on a card I made.
Contacting some about an up-coming wedding.

Financial: Usually left up to hubby, but I'm gathering account and password info for my "Just in Case" notebook.

Posting here to be held accountable...and all of you are so nice in your encouragement!

Jo, you seem to be off to a good start! I have found this to be a very helpful tool for having a more balanced life. Do post updates and let us know how you are coming along in each area.

For me, time management, maintaining the home environment and health continue to be the problem areas.

I have to agree with Blessmymess- health (making time for myself), time management, and my home environment are my problem areas.

A quick checkin after another long time off from here: I keep using the tool daily, and like it, but there is no magic bullet. My problem areas are finances and home cleaning. I have been taking a good care of my health, but I am very exhausted these days.

The worries about the children's future and my finances are taking a toll.

Hadassah, good to "see" you, again. I think we are all having anxieties about finances, these days. It's very difficult to achieve balance between income and expenses. I am sorry that you are having these worries and are exhausted, but good to hear that you are taking care of your health.

Relationship with Husband-I have a 4 1/2day weekend so we are spending a lot of time together. Tuesday I have PTO and will get a massage and then a haircut. I need both.

Relationship with Friends- Saw neighbors B/J and D/P in the back yard today. M&J invited us out for dinner tonight and a swim in the pond.

Career – FT job going ok. Winding down with my testing and am ahead of schedule which I am happy about. My part time job is going well. I am working all weekend. (F, S and M night) My second client that I was going to work with every other Sat did not pan out. Her DH is in hospice now and she is joining him in the nursing home part of the facility. It is ok because it was temporary for me anyway.

Community or Charitable Service –BB is still declining. We are enjoying the days when she can communicate and recognize us. She is shouting and getting violent which is how she used to act. Hard to see her like that. I visited client LM on Friday night. He wants me to go to the summer party at the nursing home so I can meet his family. I told him I will do that. Usually I go with client JB but she most likely will not be going this year. She has declined. Almost bed bound, very unmotivated. We learned she is hard of hearing and declined a hearing aid.

Health - Doing okay. I am getting good sleep and more exercise. I started doing one of the walking dvds I bought. The time counts down on the screen and it keeps me motivated.

Home Management or Personal Environment- Keeping up with laundry and cleaning. We planted the garden and the pots last week. We had 2 good rains so that has helped them. We have a ton of strawberries and raspberries on the plants. I am looking forward to eating them.

Financial Management- Our windows were installed a few weeks ago. We are starting to save for 3 more. I have it figured out so we can do this by September.

Time Management- Doing well. I am back to doing ‘one more thing’ each day. When I think I am done with my tasks for the day, I do one more thing.

Pets- Murf has been sleeping in bed with us for the last 3 weeks. We had a 4hr thunderstorm one night and he must have gotten very frightened. He went back in the kennel once and bucks when we try to put him in there now. We are getting used to each other in bed.