One issue was last year, I had a goal to work less, and I made the goal. In 2016, my average workday was 7.0 hours. That increased to 7.3 hours in 2017. In 2018, that was reduced to 7.1 hours. That may seem like shorter workdays, but that is the average daily hours, all 365 days. Yes, all 365 days, and no, I do not get paid overtime. Just crazy how they cut the staff by nearly 20 percent yet expect we still accomplish the same output. It is challenging, yet I am getting closure to retirement, so I will stick it out a little longer instead of struggling in a new position for a short period.
In November, I treated myself to a new car. I did not need a new car, but I never purchased a vehicle for comfort my whole life. It was always a means of getting from point A to B, I did have my Smart cars, but they were less than $15,000 and fun to drive. I decided to spend almost twice as much on a vehicle and get a smooth-driving vehicle with all the bells and whistles and excellent gas mileage. What I purchased was a Kia Niro Touring Edition. It is a hybrid, and I get about 50 MPG!
Healthwise, I had an issue over the holidays. I had struggled for two weeks with chest issues. Finally, on Christmas Eve morning, I went to the urgent care and found I had pneumonia. They put me on a series of medicines that mess up my system. It took weeks to get back to normal. I was concerned as I had planned a trip to Texas to see Jordan and attend the FCS National Championship game. I would also deliver plenty of things to him, so I drove.
The trip was tiring but enjoyable. I averaged just over 6 hours a day in the care for the six-day trip. I was part of the Bison migration, a fun app. The game was an event to remember. NDSU defeated Eastern Washington 38-24, yet there were many tense moments. Jordan and I had a great time. It was excellent, as I have seen him so much less in the past few years, but that is part of children getting busy with their own lives.
I wanted to find a way to ride my bicycle more and drive less. That is harder in the winter, so I pulled the trigger and purchased a fat tire bicycle—a juiced Ripcurrent S. It will not arrive for about another week, but I should be able to ride it in February.
So, in general, it is the same old, same old. I am alive with little time for relaxation!
Carry on, my friends, carry on...
