I left home in my slippers, thankfully noticing just after I locked the front door. It could have been a negative start to the day but I laughed and enjoyed the moment so it actually started things right.
There were many draws on my attention today but I got so much done before I got the text to cover a shift from 5-7 at Arby’s tonight. I had a good time, cleaned like a machine and chatted with the customers. Two ladies were very sweet and waved me over to say they saw I was in training and thought i was doing excellent and should ask Jesse, the owner if I could get a job at Encore Brewing when it opens, lol. I proceeded to tell them about the Founders Club and they were very interested and wondered if the former bowling league people should be invited to join. When I went back behind the counter Ashlée removed the ‘in training’ from my name-tag and I went back to the ladies and said, ‘look, I graduated!” They were so happy to have been there for that. That is one of the reasons I will miss working there, the connection with the public.
When I left work I decided to treat myself to a small Mint Chocolate shake before we don’t have them anymore. It was worth the calories!
After that shift it was back to the office to get a little more work done while I waited for the 8 pm Zoom meeting of the VIMF coordinators. I sure love being able to be part of them now. It is good to see the faces and hear what’s up at every stage of planning. My crew is slowly building and I look forward to July!
Sure did feel all the bits of my personality today, lol.
Today was intense concentration as I worked over the phone with a client on their file. I worked right through lunch and just had it before leaving to go to Key City to volunteer in the upper lobby bar for Ballet Jorgen and their performance of Cinderella. It was a full house with many kids, especially little girls in pretty dresses. I did pop in to have a quick look and the costumes were amazing. It was lovely to hear the kids laughing and enjoying it.
I can’t wait to listen to the gift that arrived in today’s mail thanks to Doug!
My grandad was 57 when I was born, only 54 when his first Grand child was born, He and my Nana looked after me for the first two years of my life after my mother and sister drowned. I was 44 when my first grand child was born and he will be eligible to get his learners drivers license not long after my 60th. I was just thinking that I was blessed to have a crazy inspiring Nana and a patient kind Grandad who were always available any time I needed them, wanted to sleep over, or just hang out. They believed in me but also doted on me. I think this made my cousins jealous. On the other side of the family, my Grandma also loved me and when she gave up her license, she gave me her car as I was a single mom with Jake. This caused ripples in my relationship with the cousins on that side. I get it, I know that most people, including myself for a decade, didn’t know about the trauma that occurred when I was only 3 months old. I feel that my Grandparents, on both sides, were trying to make up for the loss of my primary bond. I can only imagine how hard that was while suffering their own terrible loss.
I look at my own style of grand-parenting and know it is not the same. I love my grand kids very much but I don’t say yes very often when they ask to stay over. I know I should as the time is fleeting but I also know they have a close, more typical relationship with their Père and Granny. And honestly, I do better with them one on one.
Today I received a call from Rae-Anne that Will’s good friend had broken his arm while ice skating and Will was pretty upset. They would be back at the school soon. I stopped the payroll I was working on and went to find him in his classroom. He was doing okay but I could tell he was glad to see me and we had a very good long hug. The substitute teacher mouthed to me that Will is a gentle soul. When he was done, he went back to his desk and I headed back to the office with tears in my eyes. I took all his stress and all his love into me and I was just grateful to have the time to go.
Back at the office I was kept busy on a phone call with a client, fixing their file and was starting to get a sore tailbone from sitting so much when I finally remembered to use my stand up desk. I was so much happier and look forward to continuing tomorrow. Did I mention that I bought myself a pretty serious birthday present? I am now the 39th member of the Encore Brewing Founders Club. Details to follow 🙂
Harissa spice was tasty but may be regretted later.
It is windy out and there are strange noises. It is funny after so many years have passed that I still miss the movement of the houseboat I grew up in. Whenever I hear the wind, I expect to feel it as well. It sends me down a rabbit hole of memories, good ones and not so good ones, but always ones I am happy to revisit for they are a part of me. I have spent my life believing that everything in it has happened for a reason. I suppose that is a trauma defense in some ways but it has worked for me. The problem as I contemplate nearing my 60th birthday is that I wonder what it has all been for. Besides living a very full, very passionate life, what have I done to make a difference? Have I really changed anyone’s life in a positive way, have I left a legacy? I suppose the best I can hold onto is the legacy of the next generations. I do have 3 adult kids who are making a difference in the world and a brood of grandkids who hold so much promise. I just hope to stick around long enough to see the fruit, to be truly grateful for this life and know the choices I sometimes stumbled into.. were the right ones.
For the first time in as long as I can remember there was absolutely nothing on my calendar, so that is what I did. All I did all day was binge trash TV, do an entire puzzle and began a Diamond dot pic I got for a gift over a year ago. It was perfectly relaxing, the biggest stress being not letting myself reply to texts, emails and messages unless they were super time sensitive and even then I refrained from checking very often. I did get a nice call from Ash. To see what I would like to do for my 60th in April as plans need to be made depending on my hopes. I said I would let it rattle around for a bit and let her know. Later in the day, Rae called to download which I am glad she does. It makes me happy to be there for her. I decided that I would like to go away for the weekend after my birthday with my three kids. I know Jake will be here a few weeks before for Emmy’s birthday but maybe he can get a cheap flight to Calgary and join us. I have a voucher for a resort in Alberta and am going to see if I can book two nights and see if they have a spa. Spending time with the girls, uninterrupted would be so great and maybe if Encore is open we can do family dinner and bowling with all the grandkids, my Mom, etc on the actually birthday. Something to look forward to for sure!
I clearly needed to catch up on sleep as I got nearly another 12 hours! I was still puttering in my jams when Rae-Anne asked if I wanted to go to the open house at Encore Brewing. I met her there and was gobsmacked at all they have done with the old bowling alley here. It will now be a restaurant/bar/music venue, arcade, bowling alley and brewery! They took out half the lanes, leaving 8 and repurposed the wood from the lanes as counters and stage. So looking forward to hanging out there and hopefully bringing in some acts as well. They kept the old pin setters which will be run by new electronics and even managed to get their hands on the old plexiglass from around the arena to use as windows which of course I think is awesome.
I had to buy a shirt, and on the way home I also stopped at Morchella Market which was saved from shutting down by a purchaser. I like their selection of non-alcoholic options and just had to have the glasses as well.
I was home long enough to get chores done and then picked up Bill, Deanne and Ashlée to go for Sushi before heading to Symphony of the Kootenays featuring Daniel Lapp. I was thrilled to learn Maria Elliot played violin with them which was just an added bonus to a truly delightful evening. Daniel is crazy good and entertaining, the SOTK was incredible to watch and listen to, much to my surprise, I will admit. I have never been to the symphony before and really enjoyed it. I knew they were top quality musicians, just didn’t think I would enjoy it so much. There was a very good house of all ages. After, we met Daniel front of stage and had a wee reunion as we know him from Vancouver Island MusicFest and Ashlée had taken the photo of him that he then bought from her and uses on his website and other media platforms. I brought the canvas one and she her print to get him to sign and we all got excited to see each other again in July when he comes and plays the Fest. All and all a fabulous day that filled my tank.
I did get a lot done today, and my mood stayed relatively stable with my mind only moderately wandering. I was not happy that I didn’t notice a union apprentice rate change that happened in Sept 2021 so I had to calculate the retro pay and union due difference. Thankfully it went well. I worked on MusicFest as I had to respond to the new applicant as fast as possible. He is the first new person this year and has extensive experience volunteering at Vancouver Folk Music Festival which had to close down.
I got done just in time to come home for a small break before picking up Tiffany to go for food and then the Hockey game. I met her as my server and the bar manager at The Blind Pig. She messaged me last night but I didn’t respond until today and we had a good laugh when we realized we live in the same park. Off we went to Hot Shots where I used my gift cards from a client to buy us delicious salads and raspberry sodas. The game was good, we won. The Bucks scored on the Arby’s Minute so any one can get free medium curly fries by showing their ticket in the next 48 hours. It was a nice evening out and then I came home and finished my current puzzle.
Good Morning, I have just had almost 12 hours sleep and am having a bit of breakfast before getting ready for the office. Funny, I would have chosen to stay home today but I didn’t bring my laptop.
So yesterday…
The first sadness was learning that Gordon isn’t responding well to the chemo, that he had to be taken by ambulance and is getting rehydrated with his lovely Rhonda by his side. Fuck Pancreatic Cancer
The first shock was learning of an unconfirmed report that George died some time in the last two weeks. He was the janitor in the space I work and because of my late hours we shared many a conversation, an occasional meal and many good street meets since he stopped working there. I considered him a friend and it hits closer to home as he was a year younger than I am, a fact of which he often reminded me. I hope to learn more. Fuck whatever took him
I was feeling grateful that the the last of the T4s that I am directly responsible for are done and was working on VIMF email when the news came that Thom had passed peacefully that afternoon. I knew it was coming, was somewhat prepared but in the end, was broken. There is a special relationship that can result from being in a play together. The roles he and I played in The Tin Woman by Sean Grennan brought us together as grieving parents. We both fell into the roles and bonded as friends during it. I am so sad for Eleanor, their daughters and grandkids. I will miss our Santa. Fuck aggressive glioblastoma
I found myself having an anxiety attack, that I needed to FaceTime with my other ill friend just to see his face and know he is still doing ok. I did and he is and that was somewhat comforting. Fuck whatever it is causing his problems.
The only relief from it all was going to be sleep so I poured a hot THC bathbombed bath, ate a wee special cookie from a friend, put on Wakanda Forever and tried to relax. Seems I did, as I only made it half way through the movie (which I will have to watch again) before I was out and into bed. It wasn’t even 9 pm and I was glad to have turned off my ringer. I awoke momentarily at 11:30, usual bed time, and then my alarm was going off. I even snoozed it and ultimately slept almost 12 hours. I feel better over all. Grief is tough. For me, I can deeply miss those I don’t see very often, the most as there is always the expectation of running into them, of reconnecting. Instead there is a void created. As I pointed out to a friend, it would be easy to avoid if I didn’t make these connections in the first place… but what a sad life that would be.
Fuck it all, I’ll take the grief, as it is proof of love.
I didn’t sleep well, somewhat because my cat is too cuddly right now and I overheat. Being awake one last time before my alarm, I decided to get on the treadmill. Today would be the day I buckle down with Noom again and lose those last 23 pounds or so. It is also the first day of Dry February. I put Strange World on the TV. I had started watching it on Disney+ some time ago and forgot about it. After getting a wack of steps in, I decided to have a nice breakfast and lounge back in bed to finish watching it. Peach yogurt with fresh blueberries, a couple of cups of black coffee and a decent animated movie started off the month just perfectly relaxed. The last clip of the movie was a lovely aha moment as well.
I got a lot done in my busy day but it wasn’t stressed. I seem to have learned not to make other peoples problems into mine. Well, I managed that for now anyway. I had a nice salad for lunch and then came home to chicken lasagna.
Now I am watching episodes of Black Mirror, enjoying pots of tea and pistachios. Seems boundaries and regimens are good for me. Now let’s see if they are good for my physical and mental health.
triumphgal 