Cosmo's Food for Thought

Today we officially move into our new Home.  We have been moving the boxes & little stuff all week so the move today should be an easy one.  Hey my motto is "65 & Still Alive"  There is no quitting on living until God calls me Home.  We are now even closer to our Grandchildren, so that's a good thing for sure.   I am into my 4th week cooking for the guys @ ATO & all is going well.  This is definitely less stressful than running a small business & I get to hand off all the expenses to someone else for a change!  The back still acts up @ times but so far very tolerable.    Today I need to especially give God all the Praise ~ Honor & Glory.  Thank you Jesus for taking our sin to the Cross & for Grace.... & Thanks to all who still follow this blog.....

   Well it has been almost 4 months since my last post & yes life moves fast for sure.  We are settled into our new home & have already done some painting & cosmetics to put our own touches on it.  We are now as close as we can get to our family without moving in with them!  It is so comforting to have our Grandchildren so near & of course our Daughter & Son-in-Law.    I have been out of the Cafe for 7 months & while I feel some loss I know it was time for me to move on.  My back/leg issues continue & have even worsened.  Cooking for the 'boys' @ ATO has enabled me to ease up a little & certainly it is stress free.  The benefits of this job are that we get a week off for Thanksgiving, 4 weeks off for Winter break, 1 week off for Spring break & the Summer off!  That is as close to retirement as I will & want to get.  It is a great rewarding experience dealing with these young men because ...

  7 months since my last post....Sometimes it is just too hard to get back to writing, but here I go again a little older for sure & somewhat wiser, maybe.  All is well with EM & I & we are awaiting August 24th to start back @ ATO on the SU campus.  This will be my 2nd year cooking here & EM's 11th @ this 'house'!  I really do enjoy it & even with my continued leg pain.  I still consider this my retirement as we do get the Summer off as well as a week for Thanksgiving break, a month for Christmas break & another week off for Spring break.  Not too shabby especially for an old guy like me.  EM would prefer to just be really retired, but I keep moving up her date, which is now 2021 when she is 71! Ha ha...Although I know she isn't laughing, like yippee, we do have fun with this.  Here where my 'years' come into play, to consult to other potential entrepreneurs to put some money into a plan to prevent falling into the '...

Wow it's October & my favorite time of year.  It is a season for harvesting the bounty, the leaves falling & a time of change.  So this is a perfect season for me to end this blog.  I never thought of writing down things about my/our life, but it turned into kind of a diary of sorts & a way to validate this journey.   Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.   This verse makes me know that I do not want this to become an obsession & a continual "all about me" prose, so I am giving in to wisdom & humility & not puffed up pride!  I am thankful for all God has bestowed on me & my family.  His grace is a gift that can not be earned or bought with good deeds.  During this journey my faith has become stronger & I have a unwavering love for Jesus, for after all He gave His all for me/us that we might have salvation.  A sinner you bet, but the difference is now that I am ...

   Well I'm sure you have heard the phrase, 'never say never'.....So when I ended this blog back when I turned 65 it seemed like the perfect time.....Well I should have known that it wasn't really the end because hey there is still so many adventures waiting....So I'm back...I must state now that writing down my life's experiences is a stress reliever for me, as I do enjoy getting stuff out of my head...I am hoping that someday when I am 'out of here' that my Grandchildren might run across this when googling their Grandpa...It can give them a small look into my life and realize we are still connected and my love is eternal...    So here is a brief recap of those past 3 years since I sold the Cafe....I went to work as the cook for the same Fraternity @ SU that Ella Mae had been for 11 years....She was both the cook and house manager and now I would take over the cooking to help relieve her a bit....Let me say right here that I knew I could never replace...

   For those of you who are to young to remember the comedian Jackie Gleason, he coined the phrase that is the title of this post....He would say it on his TV show after his monologue to get things going...... So Lets get this next adventure going....'And away we go!'.....    As I have mentioned, I began my new job on Monday May 15th, 2 days after my last day @ the fraternity....I am now a dining room cashier @ Cazenovia College, pretty impressive huh?...Haha ....No really, this is the perfect position for someone like me that needs & wants to work but can no longer deal with the physical demands required when cooking, especially for a bunch of young guys....No more making weekly menus, ordering, prepping, cooking, cleaning & all the mental stress of it all....I am approaching this job as my last opportunity to stay relevant and hopefully be a positive influence on all who I encounter..... I will after all be the first person they will see when co...

So this Monday started out with 2 events for which made for a nice fun day...First off the 2nd orientation was held where parents, grandparents, siblings & of course the new students got to have breakfast & meet the staff,  the President & all the professors & folks that they will be interacting with during their time here....I greeted everyone & welcomed them (I know pretty stressful, ha ha)....    I have to interrupt this part of the post for Breaking New s to announce that this is 'National Rainier Cherry Day'( not quite sure what to make of that other then I do love Washington State cherries...Billie, who is a sweet retired lady from the housekeeping staff will come in occasionally to have breakfast with her friends....She will always let me know whatever national day it is....So far I have been hugged, for you guessed it, National You Need a Hug Day & kissed (on the cheek!) for yes, National Kiss Day!....I can only wait with great anticipatio...

   Sitting here @ home this Sunday morning & writing this, seems very odd....I would normally be in Church, but this day is not a normal one....For those of you who have followed me in this blog know that I have had some issues with my back/legs do to my spinal stenosis diagnosis....The area of my pain has now shifted from the front of my legs to the back...The pain has also doubled in intensity... I went to my Doctor last week & I am on a pain med & a flexeril wanna be...Also had back x-rays & was given a script to start up a program of physical therapy.....I am still able to work, but it is a challenge...So this morning the pain prevented me from my normal Sunday routine....I will however continue to thank God in all things...    Well the basketball camp kids departed on Thursday afternoon...The Friday lunch was very quiet as a result...When they were here they gave me a small taste of what it will be like this fall when all the students return.....