triumphgal

July 11, 2021

The women left at a decent time without much fanfare and I washed and reset the trailer. Emmy and I really did have a lovely time today. After breakfast she coloured the unicorn and I spray painted the horn. I coloured her braids purple which she let me know was only ok because it would wash out, or her Mom wouldn’t like it. She chose lunch at McDonalds for the toy and was thrilled to get the girl bunny from Space Jam. There was much great conversation between the two of us and I had a very good chuckle at one point. I had made arrangements with a local woman to go try on some Fluevogs so I told Emmy over lunch that I had to go to try on shoes next. We drove up and parked in front of the house and I hear from the back seat “so we are just going to some random person’s house to try on shoes?” They sadly did not fit so off to the Dollarstore for party supplies we went. I planned to have a swack of family over for a bbq as Rosie, my mom and as it happened, uncle Bryan, were all visiting. It was all planned and I was looking forward to it when I realized it was my daughter’s step-mom’s birthday tomorrow so I slipped into birthday party mode. Rae ordered a DQ cake and Emmy and I went for supplies. She became the party planner and we got all pink things with a princess theme. It was so funny in the store as it seems Emmy has not been in a big store since Covid. Everything she saw was ‘AMAZING’ or “AWESOME”!! It was highly entertaining to watch her take it all in. I dropped her off and got home to get things ready and then Danika brought her back later, after a birthday party for a friend. Mom and Rosie, Donna, Rae and Roger and boys. Ashlée, Bill and Deanne, Emmy and then Uncle Lawrence and Uncle Bryan made for a great deal of good conversation, good summer eats (Donna’s homemade pickles!) and a lot of splashing in the pool. I love our big family events and it has been far too long. That was the best three hours!! After cleaning up the yard and watering the garden, I moved indoors to tidy up while playing Vancouver Island MusicFest. So much, soooo good. It had the vibe of the Sunday night at Fest. Colin Linden and guests including Chip Esten, who played Deacon on Nashville, were just fabulous and as I write I am listening to the cool styles of William Prince. I absolutely throw aside any doubts I had about continuing on. If they will have me (they will), I will be back next year and every year after until I can no longer.

I got my x-ray results today through the health portal and it says nothing wrong but if patient continues to have symptoms, perhaps an MRI. Good grief. It will be interesting to hear what the Dr has to say. The Physiotherapist feels it is my lower spine having issues. We shall see. Mom is tucked in here and that is nice but I will admit to lecturing her as she has two new hips and is hobbling along because she doesn’t keep moving.

July 10, 2021

Slept until almost 10 which was shocking, clearly needed it. Poor Mike had been up for a long time trying to get his bike going. Seems it may need a new starter solenoid. I got dressed and pushed him down the road here trying to get it started but it didn’t catch and my hip and leg said no more. I spotted my dear friend Matt. He is a farmer who works a property over so I asked if he could help. Fortunately it started and Mike was on his way to the Kawasaki shop to seek help so he didn’t have to rely on the kindness of strangers whenever he stopped for gas.

I spent the next several hours working on the change over for the next guests, cleaning bathroom, washing sheets and blanket and towels, finishing weeding garden and cleaning the pool. Emmy arrived around 2 and we had, as she put it, a really great day. I had saved things for her to do around the house: put magnetic picture frames up on the fridge (great fun trying to recognize people in them), plant forget me nots (her fingers are perfect poke hole size for the seeds) and sticking googlie eyes around the yard (collected from a prank at the workspace). We took time out to care for the Stick Bugs and she was very brave to have one crawl up her arm.

We played a very long time in the pool and she was the canon ball queen. I can’t believe she was actually swimming trying to spot the toy sharks on the bottom.

The whole time I had my very good quality sound dock and iPad playing day 2 of Vancouver Island Music Fest. It has been soooo great and wonderful to see my friends in their interviews as well. It was on in the background and when Emmy heard Willow, she came running over to watch and then started dancing. Such a cutie patootie.

My airbnb guests arrived while I was making dinner and Emmy went out to greet them. She had a meltdown inside when I wouldn’t let her go outside to play as I knew she wanted to go see them and I wanted to give them space as they were not expecting a child on site. I let her cry for a while after sending her to her bed to calm down. I then went in and swept her into my arms for a cuddle as we practiced smelling the flowers and blowing out the candles. I saw that on “Manifest” and determined to try it next time someone was stressed out. The breathing exercise worked perfectly. She came and sat down to dinner which she immediately said she didn’t like because it was all piled together and that she liked soya sauce not my sauce. I put some soya sauce on a bit of it and then watched her devour it. I am glad she liked the veggie meat.

I read to her and she went to sleep almost immediately. We are both tired from our day and I am aching. Not doing well walking or sitting. I am about to take a pain killer and nerve med and go to bed but I don’t want to as there is still an hour and 45 of music Fest left tonight. At least I most recently saw and met Tom Jackson here in Cranbrook who is the last performer tonight, so I am ok with missing him. Also it is going to be replayed so that I can catch the end. I may just go to sleep listening.

It really feels satisfying to have the yard this maintained. I will try to pick up the records from Sean, maybe tomorrow to get it all ready for family all coming for a BBQ tomorrow night. Inside is tidy too!!! Shocking!! (Ok, hard work actually)

July 9, 2021

I went to bed early so was up at a decent time and got on with all the things I needed to do in short order.

Lawn mowed. Combi-camp unwinterized. Linens washed and dried. Ruggable washed and dried. Inside: Den reorganized, beds readied for Mom and Emmy, floors cleaned, everything tidied, Bathroom scoured and sanitized.

All things for the Airbnb were completed and then I realized it was 5 and I need to jump in the shower. Of course, while I was in there my guest arrived but he just grabbed a spot in the shade and relaxed until I came out. Mike Young turned out to be a 60 year old nice man who retired from CP but contracts back to them as a signalman. He lives in Medicine Hat and has a lovely wife and two daughters. It was so great to chat about trains and bikes and travels before I had to head out to volunteer for Key City Theatre. The event tonight was the first one since November, I believe. It was the comedian, Mike Delamont and was at The Royal Alexandra which is a beautiful venue for this type of show. I actually laughed out loud a few times which is unusual for me. Afterward I stopped at the liquor store and then came home to water my garden before settling in to watch Vancouver Island MusicFest streaming. I made it in time to watch Leonard Sumner, and then the Island Blues with some sick talent. David Vest blows me away. Angel Forrest left it all on the stage and our own Doug Cox who I am honoured to call friend just amazed me. I have not had the pleasure to see him perform like that before and he is really something.

https://app.gign.ca/view-show/TSTNAUvMRaUY0x6Qmc2s

July 8, 2021

I couldn’t bring myself to get to work until 10 or so. I was too tired and my joints ache. My shoulder above the jab is hot and aches. I worked at getting things off the list, things that could wait until next week so I can be sure I will be good to go to MusicFest next year without worry. I stopped at Safeway on the way home to get lettuce for the Stickbugs and picked up a bunch of things using my gift card. I had some dinner and sewed the last cushion as I have another booking tomorrow night. Seems I have a niche. This is a guy on a bike as well. I have been trying to close some of the days but the calendar isn’t working right now. I am going to invite the family over for a bbq on Sunday as Mom will be staying here Sunday and Monday night. I am riding the couch watching Season 3 of Breaking Bad. I am surprised I am enjoying it so much with all the bloodshed. No great stories, just chronicles of a sleepy head tonight. I am glad I booked my day clear tomorrow. At least my arm is feeling better and the antihistamine worked to take away the tape reaction.

July 7, 2021

Last night was quite the experience. The 24 year old technician was delightful and we had a few good laughs as he was wiring me up. When I first saw the harness and wires on the bed, I thought, that’s not too bad. But then he pulled out a whole nest more. I was wired all over my head, face, lower legs, arms, chest and an oximeter on my middle finger. Dead sexy that’s a big 10-4.

I had a fairly good sleep anyway as I was so exhausted. He did have to wake me up at 0530 which was not my favourite, and after I was all unhooked and changed I had to fill out a questionnaire. Unfortunately results take 6-8 weeks. He did say to use my machine again and the only thing he would tell me was that yes I did snore, when I asked. I still had nasty goop stuck everywhere so I came home to shower up, check on Missy and was at work before 0730. My Hollyhocks are so beautiful.

I am tired enough that I had to really concentrate on one thing at a time today. I left at 2 to head to the vaccination clinic as I heard I could walk in without an appointment. My scheduled one isn’t until the 18th so I was grateful there was no lineup and I got it done. 2nd Pfizer for the win! I felt like doing the Viagra little blue pill dance from the commercials, I was so happy when it was done.

I came home intending to have a nap but hung the holder I bought yesterday and got a bit organized around here before sitting on the couch to relax. I really love my colour changing lights! I can change the colours, speed and intensity.

Before having a nap I reached out to Rae to see if we were doing dinner out tonight. There was a big miscommunication as I thought she said she had Emmy and they were all coming over for a swim. What I thought was that she was coming right away but she was at work until 5. I got hangry and tired and the sky opened up while I was waiting for them.

https://www.facebook.com/marnee.bellavance/videos/977261736443172/

https://www.facebook.com/marnee.bellavance/videos/863215677612951//

Gene made crap dinner for the kids and then I made Hoisin Glazed Pork Meatballs for Rae and I. Unfortunately I Couldn’t concentrate and there was a lot going on. It took all the way until she had to eat and run to get Emmy home to her Mom and bed. Emmy and Sawyer had fun in the pool as the sky had cleared before they left. At least dinner was delicious.

I sewed two more cushion covers, one to go. I am having a reaction under my chin and on my chest to the tape and or goop used to hold the wires on. I have taken and antihistamine but am a bit burning and sore. Fortunately nothing at my shot site. Like last time I can’t even tell I got it. Will see how tomorrow goes.

I am still obsessing a bit about the fact that I got my ultrasound results today and it is recommended I get an MRI because of the size of the mass. I will discuss it with my Dr. next Wednesday. So may things going on…

July 6, 2021

In half an hour I leave for the sleep clinic. I have done all I need to to prepare but now need to go dry this thick mop of hair that they need to put electrodes in and water my plants before I go. Just wanted to check in and let you know I will be back with a full report tomorrow night. As for today, I worked hard, stopped having caffeine after noon and didn’t have any alcohol. My dinner out with Stacey to Mr. Mikes led to eating some surprise Carmen Peppers in the Aioli sauce on the appetizer even though I mentioned I was allergic to them so they held them off my main course. My guts don’t love me at the moment but it is early yet so I hope my pill kicks in.I am drinking lots of water with lime and am remaining calm. My obsessive self was not assisted by the Dr. office calling to have me actually come in next Wednesday about my knee….. I was hoping a phone call would do but she must have seen something in the x-ray. I will play ostrich and put it out of my head for now. Gas prices are ridiculous, 1.499/L or around $6 a gallon!!! That’s almost the cost of milk for goodness sakes and we all know Canada has outrageous dairy prices!

July 6, 2021

I was not thrilled to find I had forgotten the water was going to be shut off for local hydrant replacement and didn’t get in the shower before hand. I was checking out my very first blueberry (blissfully ate it) when I realized the pool had had a mishap overnight and a bunch of water had dumped out. I suspect an animal jumped on the edge.

Did all the morning chores, taking out the garbage etc and then headed to work for Monday payroll and remittances. It was a bit of a frustrating day so when my Grandson Gene messaged that he had the money to buy my iPhone I used the virtual assistant to try to purchase a phone so that I could give mine to him. She was not very helpful and simply sent me to the ‘retail’ store which doesn’t actually exist here yet. There was not convincing her of that so at the end of my day I went to Shaw. As I suspected, the actual retail centre isn’t opening until July 30th in the Mall. They were helpful to get a SIM card activated and bring his phone on to my much cheaper plan though. I went to the Guedes house and spent almost two hours trying to get Gene’s phone backed up and then planned to use his for mine until then. Unfortunately his doesn’t take calls so then we had a plan to borrow Lukas’s until I could get mine but after all that we discovered his is not unlocked… sigh. So we had to quickly put my SIM card back in mine as I can’t do without it. By then I was racing to my meeting

I really enjoyed meeting at Jenn’s house with Beth as the play selection committee, We had like a mini book club, discussing the scripts we read and questioning the criteria for choosing a season. It was nice to sit around and be proactive. Toward the end we were just chatting about musicals and the original music in one of the shows when Beth mentioned one of her favourite shows of all time. She couldn’t remember the name of it but that it was put on at a college Theatre school in Vancouver. Jenn mentioned Studio something and I said ‘Studio 58’. yes she said that is the one, they put on an amazing production of Midsummer Nights Dream, with unbelievable original music. By this point I was stunned and asked if it was in 1981… and then I pulled out my phone and started skipping through my albums to find a picture. I showed it to her and we had a good laugh when she said ‘yes, that’s the one’ and I said ‘and that’s me!’ She had seen my favourite show I have ever been in, 40 YEARS AGO and it has stuck with her. She mentioned the opening scene perfectly. Now that is the magic of the arts, to leave a brain scar to carry for life. It seriously made me so happy. Oh did I mention Colin Mochrie went to that school too. It was a glorious time for theatre and a growing movie industry in BC. I have seen so many of my friends from school in TV and movies and some have even been to Cranbrook in shows including Jill Daum seen as Titania in these photos. That’s me as Mustard Seed wearing a shower curtain and straddling the back of her bike. I went on to do so much theatre in a few cities in BC, had a great time as and extra and have been on a few theatre boards. I do feel like it is time to direct again though.

Stopped to sort out phones again, arrived home to make some dinner but went for a walk with the Neighbour Tracey to check out the new development. It is crazy how much is going on and difficult to see the final scope of the roadwork. Did finally get dinner made and it was so delicious which will make a great lunch tomorrow as well .

July 4, 2021

I didn’t sleep very well without my machine. Two more nights to go. I suspect I will sleep well tonight as I am so tired and am worn out from going up and down a ladder to get things done. I removed a cabinet that was attached to the wall and it took a lot to do that. I wanted it to fit in a specific place in the den/guest room but it is two inches too big. I will rethink the plan but by the time I got it there I was so tired and still had to reorganize the stuff into all the cabinets I had emptied and make dinner. Dinner was tasty but not likely one I would order again.

The weather just keeps giving… ah, the Kootenays

July 4, 2021

Up at 9, out and enjoying the morning again. Decided to tackle a big project today in anticipation of my cat door arriving and a need to renovate another section. I got started and worked until it was nearing time to meet Ward and have him pick up the gear at the theatre. I was well into the work when I realized I was still wearing my nightie. Had a good chuckle and then threw on my tank that I am typically packing to wear this upcoming week. On the way to meet Ward, I dropped a whole load off at the thrift store, definitely getting rid of things that don’t bring me joy. After the theatre I went to Home Depot to get some electrical bits and ended up buying the one plant I really want, the perfect Eucalyptus. I even got a discount as the plants at its base were wilting.

Back at home I FaceTimed with my Mom while I painted. It was nice to catch up. It is so odd that neither my brother nor my mom have AC. I feel sorry for them, and feel like I am living in a palace now. I threw Breaking Bad on the TV and finished the project. I can’t even tell you how happy it makes me. I know I made a good choice with the bold colour and the colour changing lights as every time I look at it, I grin. Tomorrow I will get started taking away the built in cabinet so I can move my table. The cat door is supposed to be here by Friday.

July 3, 2021

It was a lovely albeit early morning again. I will be glad to have no alarm tomorrow. There were only 5 of us in the building today as many took advantage to have a long weekend. I worked on getting the payrolls done and then got a text that my dear friend, Dan was driving down from Radium. He was there on vacation with friends and was making a side trip to see me and a co-worker friend in Kimberley. It was around 1 when he got to my office so we headed to the Firehall for a bite to eat. We had a couple beer, some good food and some great conversations. Dan was one of my first friends at RHN, the accounting firm I started working for in 2010. The first staff meeting we had I heard him mention the Ducks and that was when we discovered our mutual love for all things Anaheim. We have had adventures going to hockey games, playing ball, curling, and attending staff parties. He used to text me play by plays of games when I couldn’t watch them. We have always planned to go to California to a game together. Decided today we still need to do that. It really was so great to hang with an old friend and chat about so many things. I am worried for him though as he will be heading home to Ladner tomorrow and forgot something at his airbnb in Radium so has to go back that way and there was terrible rain causing flooding in Invermere and a big mudslide near Golden. My friend Marty got caught in that and is pretty shook up but at least he is ok. I accepted a booking for my airbnb for next weekend as I thought i had snoozed it for renovations. Apparently, I did not. But when I found out it is two women on motorcycles on an adventure from Calgary, I had to say yes. I will be careful and sanitize after they use the bathroom. Can’t wait until the end of July when I will feel more comfortable as I will be double vaccinated.

Back at the office Sean continued the prank war and I have to admit it cracks me up

I also love the photo of me being used for Community Theatre. Maureen did a good job of it.

Dinner was ok, didn’t really love the texture, would do it differently next time but pretty sure I just don’t love ground pork.

After dinner I was on the couch playing on my iPad when I thought to wonder where my friends, The Bennetts lived in relation to the wildfires in that part of the Province. I guess I inadvertently dialed and Dan answered. He is married to my best friend from high school. It was great to chat with him briefly and we had a good laugh about my ‘butt dial’. I was left assured that they are safe, just smoky, the same as we are here.

All in all, it was a great day of Dans!!!

July 1, 2021

I will start out by explaining the awesome things that happened in my day. I was awoken early by Missy but she seems to be so much better that I can hardly fault her for waking me up at my usual get up for work time! It also got me out into my yard watering and enjoying the Robins and the coolness of the morning to water and sit in peace. I came in for coffee and a stretch of Breaking Bad which I am finally watching. Even 5 episodes in, it is nothing like I expected or was turned off by. Yeah, yeah I am late to the party. Yay, Netflix.

I met Maureen at the Studio/Stage Door as we had committed to clearing the stage of bits and bobs of booth tear down so the contractors could have a cleared space. We moved things to the basement three floors down, took pictures of the space for marketing and generally had a great visit which we haven’t made time to do for a long time. A musician who works for a Food supplier dropped off some coffee supplies for our donation to the vaccination clinic and I took the opportunity to show him the items I was selling and giving away from our work party on Monday. He is taking all the to go stuff in exchange for the coffee supplies for the duration and will purchase some lights which lets me buy the two I need to complete our inventory. Synchronicity!!! I love when the world dials in the circle of need.

After I got home, I made a rhubarb-peach crisp from the garden and freezer bounty to take with me to the Campbells for dinner. Their friends Don and Jenn were visiting and I do so love their company. We all feel comfortable breaking off into side conversations and they get deep and interesting. Dinner was delicious and a ride to and from was appreciated so I could just relax and enjoy.

I love that my Tiger Lilies have decide to burst in to bloom on Canada Day. It is a very conflicting day this year as we acknowledge the atrocities of the past 50+ years regarding the residential schools in Canada. I have such a strong tie with the Heiltsuk First Nation, having worked and then also lived there from 2010 to 2016. I respect who they are and have come to acknowledge first hand the full effects of generational trauma. Some of my dearest friends taught me through the pain of their remembering. I honour Pauline and others like her who shared their stories with me. Who’s pain was palpable and yet they succeeded in their careers and family lives. I did not at first understand that they gave everything to their children. In my world that meant the kids were spoiled and entitled but what it really was was that they were treated with respect and love and devotion, the things their parents never had. I am sorry I did not understand sooner and passed judgement. I struggle with the understanding that in the 1600s my ancestors landed in Quebec, rewarded with property for their time in service. I could not know today how many generations along the way treated First Peoples wrongly, I can only hope to do better. I do see color and culture that is different than mine. I am jealous of traditions and wish that I had a depth of culture that was not white washed by time, literally in this country. what I do know is that I love deeply and some of those I love happen to be of First Nations decent. Do I see them differently? I don’t think so. The only thing I do know is that they are too far away and I miss them. My time in Bella Bella was not perfect. Out of 50 things I would say 48 would blow my mind but the other two were very horrific. I still miss the people and the ocean and it is tempting to reach out for work when I know from a friend in a power position that there is some available coming up. I shall have to wait and see if I could work out a contracting position. In the meantime I will love the Canada I was raised to be proud of and mourn with the nations hurting, knowing I can only do my best to be better.

I learned today about the Maple in my yard and found it quite suitable to be on our flag.

My heart breaks for Lytton, the hottest spot in Canada ever as of this week, as they say 90% of it is gone due to the wildfire that raced in so fast even the ambulances didn’t have time to get out of the station. My earliest memory of all time is that of being very young and playing on a grey board floor playing with an orange crate of green toy soldiers on the lobby floor of the Lytton Hotel which my Grandparents were managing. They say Main Street is gone so I suspect it is as well. Sigh.

I find it perfectly appropriate that my Orange Tiger Lilies burst out in full force today as I wore orange in remembrance.

And just so you know, these are our regular temperatures.

So now that Covid is in stage 3 I wonder if I should continue this. It has been a weird ass slice of my life. I received the text to book my appointment for my second jab and will get it on July 18 so I guess I will keep going. I dare say, public opinion will sway me so if you have an opinion that this is just interesting enough, let me know and I will keep going. Happy Canada Day from the unceded territory of the Ktunaxa Nation

July 1, 2021

Today marked the 365th day of my being self employed. It has been quite the year all around, getting used to all the changes and the new dynamics with new people. I am the only one to celebrate my milestones and successes as a conglomerate of one. It’s okay, I enjoyed a few drams of a delicious bottle of Fernie Fog that I had Rae buy for me when they were there last weekend to kick back and relax once I got home from a very long day.

It was payroll and remittance day for many of my clients so I was kept busy. I also spent some time on my own books, getting caught up before it was time for our extra board meeting to discuss bringing back live music to Rotary Park this summer. It will be a lot of work to get going again but ultimately so worth it.

When I got home I scoped everything out as usual. I noticed that my bike was sinking into the driveway. I searched to find the pad I have for under the kickstand and moved the bike to wrangle it to a safe perch. Even the front tire left a mark as I turned it. I have not experienced that here before. It has been too hot to ride, I mean I had a hard time in the car yesterday because the steering wheel and shifter were really too hot to touch.

I was impressed that my Hello Fresh order came in a bigger box and although there were two bottles of beverage as a gift, the real reason was that they are trying out new packaging to keep everything fresher in the heat. Pretty impressive really. And the bag is compostable once you take the recyclable zipper off!

I started the morning off dropping a case of water at the Street Angels building as it is set up as a cooling centre. It seems like such a small gesture from the comfort of my air conditioned world. But it’s something. I am so sad for the people of Lytton. It was the hot spot in Canada, breaking all previous records in the country 49.6C / 121.28F and now a wildfire has swept through. A terrifying start to summer.