My cat Larisa got her haircut yesterday. She'd accumulated a bulky coat so slowly over the months that by the time I realized it, it was out of control. This haircut gives us a chance to start over, with a comb on a short velvety coat.

At work, with 19 more days until I leave my job, I'm divesting myself slowly as well. I've gone through most of my desk drawers - throwing some things away and taking a few items home each day. And on my computer I'm deleting. It feels like I'm getting a work haircut of sorts.

At home, the paperwork frenzy is slowing as the retirement paperwork has reached its destination and the pensions are showing up in the bank account. Next month I'll start going through the file cabinet, shredding old payroll reports and company letters, descriptions of benefits and annual evaluations. And old bank statements and credit card statements now that most of it is online.

Larisa and I are moving more freely now, not so encumbered by stuff we've been lugging around that we don't need.