Tomorrow, I return to the 9-to-5 grind, with decidedly mixed feelings.
Of course, I’m happy to have a job. Many older people have trouble finding new employment when jobs are lost, and I was very fortunate to have a strong network to rely upon. The new job, while very busy, promises to be less stressful than the old one, and I’m not quite ready to retire (well, I would if I could, but rolling loose change won’t get me there).
So, I will get up in the morning, don my work togs, and report to duty with a smile on my face.
But today was the last day of my enforced vacation, and I really hate giving up all that free time. No more doing what I want, when I want, and how I want. No more running to the store for ice cream, or wine, in the middle of the day.
Being as it was my last day of freedom, and being as it was too darn hot this week to even take Cody out for longer than 5 minutes at a time, and being as today it was only 82° F (and overcast!), hubby and I decided a nice drive and walk was in order. We wanted somewhere with lawns and trees. Most parks would be too crowded on a Sunday, and Cody doesn’t like crowds.
State University of New York at Buffalo-Amherst
Finally, we decided on the State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst campus (a/k/a UB-North).
When our kids were growing up, we often took them over to the UB-North campus for walks or to play Frisbee on those huge lawns. When they became teenagers, we taught them to drive at UB-North. School is currently not in session, and crowds would be nonexistent.
And so, we bundled Cody into my SUV and off we went.
Cody loves riding in the car, but this was a longer ride than usual. After a block or so, she realized we were not going to the track where we normally walk, nor we were on the way to the vet’s. Where could we be going?
The wide open lawns at the campus were certainly enticing, but we know better than to let Cody off-leash anywhere that bunnies and other critters might dwell. Heaven forbid, she find herself nose-to-nose with a groundhog!
As soon as we parked the car, and took Cody out, we discovered a bunny on the lawn next to us. Cody so wanted to chase that bunny – thank heavens for leashes.
Of course, having visited UB-North so many times, we knew a nice back route to the man-made lake.
The Lake, State University of New York at Buffalo-Amherst
There are also lots of wooded areas around the lake.
While Cody and hubby walked into the woods, I took the opportunity to snap a few photos.
The trail to the right in the above photo went directly into swamp land.
And a little more swamp land. Good thing it wasn’t buggy!
Finally, it was time to head back home.
Time to relax before getting back to the weekday routine.
A tired puppy is a good puppy!
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
Congratulations on having job, good luck and may it be a great job that you enjoy. And boy, are you gonna love retirement 🙂
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If I ever get there, I will love retirement. Meanwhile, hi ho hi ho it’s off to work I go.
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More like, “I owe, I owe, so it’s off to work I go.”
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Have fun at your new job! Glad you had a relaxing vacation. PS…ser your alarm.
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Nuts, do I gotta? Can’t I just say I overslept on my first day?
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That is a gorgeous, gorgeous campus!
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It is. But do you know that not one of my kids was willing to go to college there? Apparently, we ruined it for them by taking them there so much as kids. Go figure.
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Good luck on the new job. Cody looks like the walk did the trick.
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Cody loves her walks.
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6:15 wake up??? I’m already at work by 5:45. then again, I’m out the door at 2:30.
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Ha! I’ll be at work until 5:15 pm.
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Pthbbtt, Jim!
But that means your home before 5, right? Cain’t beat that with a stick!
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Great shots, CM! All the best in your new job. Happy working! (.=^・ェ・^=)
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I love the software that came with my camera. You can take the most mundane photo and make it into something spectacular.
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d=(´▽｀)=b
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Good luck for your frst day in your new job.
Glad you had a relaxing last day off, and that pic of a tired Cody is lovely.
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I did enjoy my time off, but it’s good to be back to work.
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I am with you, I would love to retire but can’t yet, Soon for both of us I hope. I hope it is a rewarding job and you like it.
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I think I will like the job very much once I get acclimated to the new office and new computer system. It’s an easier drive than my last job, so that helps, too.
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CM, lovely to see Puppy Cody. Lots of luck with the new job. Jean and Stanny!
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Cody is probably bored again, being home alone all day. Send Stanny over so they can play.
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He’s a bit of a homebird but you’d never know what way he’ll react to such an invite.
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All the best on your new adventure, CM. I love to walk on local college campus grounds…so peaceful, if you don’t go between classes. ☺☺
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Empty campuses are lovely. Full ones usually are not. I once visited my daughter at Binghamton University and managed to pull onto campus at the exact same time classes were changing. What a nightmare!
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Pretty! It’s cooler here this week, and I can get back to walking longer distances. 🙂
Good luck with your new workplace!
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Cooler is good. It was only about 81 degrees here today, which is good because although the new office is air conditioned, my little closet doesn’t get much of that air.
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Oh no. Your little closet needs a fan!
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Great walking tour CM – and Cody looks satisfied. Back to the salt mines for you Monday – it is good to have a job.
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I agree. Having a job is good, especially if you’re fond of eating and paying the mortgage.
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Yes, a tired puppy is a happy puppy. Hope your new job is interesting enough to be pleasant and not stressful enough to be a problem! (No one can retire these days, sigh)
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Time will tell. Today I went from a morning of “Would someone PLEASE give me something to do?” to an afternoon of “OMG where do I start?!” Among many other projects, I got my first file assigned just to me, so now I feel like I’m back in a professional position and earning my salary. (Although I admit I was secretly hoping to keep that salary and just get the gravy work. Oh well.)
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