I was up and at the office at a decent time to get things done before heading to my dentist appointment at 11. I have been having pain and bleeding in the lower right and there was likely some food caught around my crown. Dr Tom took care of it and put fillings in the ‘trenches’ forming on my bottom two teeth. They are wearing in the same way my Dad and Grandads did. he did the fillings without freezing which is always unnerving. It went well but I felt like I had done Pilates when it was over from holding in the stress and running through my head was: No matter what, don’t hit him. It was funny to read later one of my Facebook memories that I had freezing less fillings 8 years ago today as well! My Pair rim that was the wrong one in my original order arrived last night and I love the flamingos
I went back to the office for about an hour before signing out and heading to Studio 134, my friend Jills studio in her basement. I decided yesterday I wanted to get closer to my true colour without getting rid of all the grey, and have a health trim. We had a great visit while she did an awesome job that I am thrilled with. 3 inches lighter and a lovely depth of colour, I shall be back!
BeforeAfter
After that I popped home to have a quick bite to eat before heading to my onsite client to finally get his 2020 year end ready to send to the accountant. We high-fived when it was done tonight and I shall be back to move on with the 2021.
The day was challenging as the AC is down at the office, for the third day in a row and there is none at the clients. It was good to get home and relax in the cool. I should have mowed my lawn but will do so tomorrow. Sheldon is leaving and Emily is arriving tomorrow night.
Part of the win for the day was asking my friend Bear if he had a friend who would like to join him being paid security overnight for the Friday of our Peak Music Fest. It was stressing everyone out so that is a relief to have off our plate and I know he is super responsible.
Today was productive, met with people and got shit done. Then I came home, made a tasty dinner and after eating, headed to my martial arts class. Keith was running it tonight as Guru Joel had company from out of town. There were only of us there but it was fun and we learned some new moves. One was especially good for taking the legs out from under someone trying to punch you on the street. I really need to practice more outside of class as I do want to go for a belt in Escrima. It is a Philippine style. I know me well enough that I need a goal and a prize. I am proud of me for getting involved at all and that will be the next perfect step. For now, I am worn out and it was warm in the gym so I am literally chilling on the couch.
I was amused by waking to man items in my bathroom. One was left behind last week and one is Sheldons who is currently staying here. I admit that man reminders are lovely. If only a handsome single man of my dating range would show up! These younger men and I are having amazing depths of conversation, they are sexy as can be and yet… my position as hostess and my age, likely seen by them as beyond keeps me in Uber control. It is funny how many of the men show up indoors barely dressed. One came out of the shower only in his towel, another shows up shoe and shirtless, hot as fuck. I had a good laugh when a friend said that was an invitation. I just think it is more likely that two things come into play. They see me as too old to be a prospect and the age range has total body acceptance, therefore lack of clothing is not a signal for anything but sun screen.
I had a pretty good day, got a lot done, paid and unpaid. The plan was to go kayaking with a group, following friends out to Lazy Lake. The plan was also to meet Shannon and Teri at the Blind Pig for wings and a bevie first. I was having a great time finally getting time to hang with the ladies and having a good time so I decided to skip the kayaking. That was a good plan as I got home to have a great visit with Sheldon and make a plan for him to potentially stay here through to December as he is a pipe fitter on a local project. He would stay in the trailer as long as is weather comfortable and then I would give him a monthly rate to use the den. I think I could handle that with some adjustments to my routine. He is out for work before my alarm so that helps, it would mostly be my nighttime routine… may have to use earbuds to fall asleep to the TV or podcasts. We shall see.
I had to text Mary Lynne, my friend on Salt Spring as years ago four girlfriends went to see Nearly Neil at Artspring on Island. The memory of Annie reaching into her purse during the intermission and pulling out her home phone made me literally laugh out loud. Those were such good times when I had a woman posse.
I had a terrible toss and turn night that culminated in a nightmare that had me stressed out at 5:30 am. I haven’t had one like that in a long time, one that left me shaken. I even tried to yell in the dream, to stop them from touching my bike and wanting to wake up at the same time. I struggled to fall back asleep and finally decided to get up and on with the day. It was a good choice as I was at the office an hour early after spending over an hour on the treadmill watching the final episode of Inventing Anna. That Shonda Rhimes, she sure makes quirky character magic.
The day was irksome at moments and I was likely curt a few times but got my jobs done. I decided to whip home at 5 to make dinner and I did enjoy it but forgot to take a good after picture. My leftovers are going to make a great lunch tomorrow.
Next on the list was a board meeting to mostly discuss our plans for Peak Music Festival, the Friday night and Saturday of the September long weekend. I have a good sized task list for the next couple days but was thrilled when it was agreed I am to be the Emcee for the event. I will also fill other jobs where needed to help make it a success. It is nice to have something important and fun to look forward to. I am glad I finally spoke up that I would love to as I may have been holding back too much at first. I do love our little group of humans that put this music in the park on all summer. Now, I hope we get the volunteers to lighten the load!
I couldn’t resist taking photos of all the colour variations in my Hollyhocks, so beautiful!!
I slept right through my alarm today but that did not panic me as I have the tent trailer ready and things organized for my day. A quick shower and off to the office. There was much to do but this month is mostly fixing other peoples stuff and finishing things I put off last month. There is not as much pressure at this point.
I decided to head to my recently acquired client’s shop as he is still struggling to complete 2020 so he can send in his year end and continue on. He is kind and thoughtful and I agreed to take his case. I worked for an hour or so and then headed home to meet my guest, Sheldon. Once he was checked in, I headed back to the shop and worked until 9. Two more months to go and a review before sending it to the accountant and then on to the 2021 file. We agreed that me going home from the office first and having a break and dinner before going there is the best idea. I have a board meeting tomorrow night, plan to go on a group kayak Wednesday and then have my Shield Maidens class Thursday but I will get it done… soon. I have to remind myself that someone else’s falling behind doesn’t make it my emergency. At least he’s a nice human that I am happy to assist and he pays the second I send him an invoice.
The wildfires are kicking in around us but at least not too close to be feared. The air quality goes from bad to okay dependent on the wind direction. It is later in the year for the most part.
I slept well and long enough, awoke to accomplish some chores in the house and then headed outside to deal with my nasty pool. I haven’t been maintaining it properly and on top of it, little miss Emmy came down with hand foot and mouth disease and she was in it last weekend. I left it covered and intended to get chemicals and deal with it sooner but by the time I opened it up this afternoon, it was pretty green, sigh. I had bought a kit yesterday to shock it so I followed the directions and have to wait 48 hours to see how it worked. I seriously hope I don’t have to refill it, such a waste of water. I will perhaps have a greener lawn though, so that would be an advantage.
I slept through the cool part of the day so didn’t get the lawn mowed, again. I had tried to start my weed eater last time I was doing lawn maintenance but it wouldn’t run. I need to trim the lawn edges more than mow but it will have to wait for another day. My roses have recovered from the deer attacking them and I am still getting a few raspberries daily which is a blessing.
Through late afternoon and evening I took down one of the ceiling swag curtains in the trailer and put the beautiful piece of material I picked up at Fabricland. I then spent the rest of the time making two new curtains out of it for the side windows as they got some mildew stains I can’t get out. I haven’t sewn in a while but it was very enjoyable. They are not fully finished on all edges but I have a guest for the whole week so I had to get them finished ‘enough’ and hang them.
I made a Hello Fresh meal for the first in a long time, California Style Fish Tacos and it was so great in the texture and taste department. I will see how well that transfers to my lunch tomorrow, though.
While I was doing all the indoor things today I watched the limited series on Netflix, Inventing Anna. It do is something that would be completely unbelievable if it wasn’t true.
I tried to sleep in this morning but found myself up at a decent time and working my way through some chores. I decided to get myself prettied up in a sun dress and head into the office to finish my data entry and reporting for Tuesday’s FPPAS board meeting. I intermittently dropped things off at the park and accomplished many chores, picking up prescriptions, purchasing chemicals for my pool as poor Emmy was in it last and came down with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (from others, not the pool), and shopping for a punching bag to hang on the stand I was able to get for free from an acquaintance.
I am going back for this one
Once I got myself settled at Rotary Park, I learned the stage manager preferred me to MC. I admit, I really love doing it. Over the years I have been blessed to do so in front of 10s of thousands of folks at EXPo 86 and many other moments. It is a different kind of performance, more like stand up and it is more awkward as the audience is at quite a distance but I really do love it and am honoured that our team has that faith in me. It is also fun to do the announcements with Maureen as our banter back and forth works well.
Sackboy on a local adventure
I knew it was my official night off and that I could mostly hang out so I had messaged my friend Steph and asked her to join me. We had a great night of chat and encouraging each other in our life goals etc. We acknowledge each other’s ethics and desires for the good and full life we desire. It is good to have a top tier friend like her. At 59 and 45 it is wonderful to find such connection.
I came home and have been watching Amazing Race Canada which has been nearly local in Fernie and Sparwood. So fun to watch.
I ask your forgiveness for dropping out of sight. It has been nearly a month since my last missive! I have been processing this whole ‘what is my story and what is not’ and decided I just need to catch up and carry on. I will do a separate entry eventually to record the hot spots of what has gone on previously but decided that the stress of that was keeping me from my daily. So, here I am.
I was motivated to share tonight by a lovely young couple staying in my Airbnb. Oriana and Lucas were super cute and friendly. I was prepared by saying goodnight and goodbye as I will not be setting an alarm before they are likely to leave in the morning. As it happened I was engrossed watching Clickbait when Lucas came in for a shower and in a random conversation as he was heading out we connected that Oriana also grew up in a houseboat in Queensborough. He ran out to get her and we discovered so many connections including him going to theatre school at Uvic and her working here at Fort Steele in the past! We ended up having a great visit and it reminds me why I do this Airbnb thing; not for the money, but for the relationships.
Meanwhile IRL, today was not easy, but I adore that an onsite assist client stepped out and brought me an Ice Cap, asked if he could book me for his year end and compliments me big time about my abilities. It makes what I do feel meaningful, especially when I feel left out of the clique back at the office.
Rae texted me for a ‘red chair in the yard’ visit which I always wish for more of and we had a good catch up before she had to go back to work to help close due to a sick employee. It was great to get her perspective on what has been going on for me and hear all about her work vacation to Ottawa and Montreal. I miss our long conversations when I would be driving to a job and she had her own shop and time to talk,
I believe I am back for a while now. It is hard to know what is my story to tell and what is just the reaction to others stories but I know that I have obsessed about not doing this. Each night the thoughts rush through my brain on a loop because I have not ‘penned’ them here. I believe it is good for my mental health, so I shall continue.
Goodnight, my friends, I have missed you.
OH yeah, beware blueberries, I turned my smoothie into pudding this morning. I had to use a spoon rather than drink it, lol
triumphgal 