Is age 60 always this busy?

Climbing the stop sign.  Seems appropriate.  (Real Simple Magazine)

Over the past couple of months, I haven't had time to write this blog. I know that sounds crazy, but since turning 60 in April, life has been crazy fast, like its' on steroids.  In fact I thought about discontinuing the blog, but here I am again writing about this busy retirement life.

If I ever thought retirement would be relaxing, I was dead wrong.  Most of the time I am wishing for a few days to relax.  Here's a quick look back at May and June...

Speedway, Indiana-home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

We love auto racing, and Indianapolis is the place to be in the month of May.  This year we attended the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, and the Indy 500.  This year was the 100th running of the Indy 500, and over 300,000 people attended the race! Our friends Gretchen and Craig joined us for race weekend, and we celebrated in style.

Tailgating with Gretchen and Craig

Enjoying Bloody Mary's before the race

June was concert month in Indy.  Over the past 2 weeks, we attended 2 concerts at Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville(north of Indy).  We joined Brian and Stacy for Bad Company and Joe Walsh concerts.  We did a little tailgating before the concert, and then we headed in for some amazing music.

Concert time with Brian and Stacy

Bad Company Stage

The next concert was Huey Lewis and the News and Jimmy Buffett.  You know, I've heard a lot of people talk about a Jimmy Buffett concert, but until I attended one in person, I really didn't get it.  Talk about a party scene.  People started arriving to the tailgate party about 12:30 PM though the concert didn't start until 7:00 PM.  We went with our friends Kevin and Kathy, and we set up a tent, the grill and lots of decorations.  It was a blast wandering around the parking lot visiting with people and enjoying a few libations along the way.

And the concerts were great.  The entire crowd stood for both concerts and sang along to both Huey Lewis and Jimmy Buffet songs.  I never saw so many beach balls in my life.  It was a wonderful evening, and though I'm not quite sure if I'll ever see myself as a "parrothead", I likely will jump at a chance to go to another Buffet concert.  This concert was billed as the "I don't know" concert, and the song lyric keeps floating through my head... "I don't know.  I don't know.  I don't know where I'm a gonna go when the volcano blows."

Tailgating with Kevin and Kathy

Party Atmosphere

Drinking games

Mom, Mike, Judy, Diane, Violet, Alice and Ron

We enjoyed a couple of visits to see mom and family during June.  We did some landscaping work trimming bushes and replacing a dead bush.  We enjoyed seeing Judy and Ron and Diane and the kids on one of these visits.

I enjoyed babysitting for my great-niece Violet for a couple of hours while her mom and sister went to the dentist.  We ran around the house a few times, dot painted and chalk painted.  We read books and shot water guns.  I never laughed so hard, and I have to admit I was totally exhausted after a mere two hours.


Mike and I enjoyed a wonderful day at the Talbot Street Art Festival where we found a beautiful copper wind spinner...

We enjoyed a wonderful visit with friends Garth and Chris at the Italian Festival.  Interesting processional by children of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Italian Fest with Chris and Garth

School children in processional

Elena and her friend Miley stopped over for a visit.  Miley was visiting from Bulgaria, and I had a great time learning about her life.  We were able to communicate primarily in English with a little help from Elena's translations.  We laughed like crazy proving once again that laughter is a universal language.

Elena and Miley

 Mike and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary at a wonderful new restaurant called Union 50.

Anniversary dinner

Union 50

We've been enjoying this very hot June by cooling off several times in our friends' pool.  Kevin and Kathy have this amazingly large pool, and there is nothing better on a very hot day...












And I took some time to make a denim tablecloth for our friend Stan.

Blue Belle testing the denim patches

So finally it's the last week of June, and we have a few days without plans.  Unbelievable!  Even Mike (the energizer bunny) is exhausted from 2 crazy busy months. We've enjoyed lots of great times with friends and family and house guests, but now it's time to breathe and unwind and simply do nothing.  I doubt if this nirvana lasts long, but for now, I'll enjoy it!

Take care and enjoy your week!
Diane