I was thrilled to arrive at the office and given a Christmas present from Nikki that showed she really listens and knows me. I had mentioned some time previously that I wanted a good soup mug and she hoped I hadn’t gotten one yet. I hadn’t, and I am pretty sure the bottle of Crown that accompanied it would fit nicely in it, lol.
The next strange thing that happened was when Cindy came to tell me that FedEx was here with a very heavy coffee table for me. I had not ordered one so I called Wayfair and they said just to keep it if I wanted or refuse it and it would be returned. I would not be charged so I took it. What a weird and wonderful surprise it turned out to be. A $1600 concrete table…. it weighs 147 lbs so is currently sitting at the office until I figure out what I am going to do with it.
I was blessed when Rae-Anne showed up with Niki and Nesta the previous owners of Arby’s to give me an especially thoughtful gift for my time at Arby’s and help at Encore. Nesta had a special edition Millennium Edition Crown Royal that she gifted to me as well as gift cards to both FireHall and Encore which I am ever so happy to use. It was very thoughtful and I am grateful.
I raced off to Bill and Deanne’s for the annual family photos. It was a bit chaotic but we got some decent ones and, well, this is us.
Next was back to the office to work on payroll before my board meeting at 6. The meeting went well, I previewed the website for the crew and they seem happy with it, phew! We can’t seem to come to a consensus about some things, but we are working on it.
After the meeting, I finished the payroll I was working on as I am going to a client’s tomorrow. And, then I got home around 10. I am having a hard time winding down, but am watching my trash TV and hope to be sleepy soon.
I woke up at 11:45! It turns out the batteries had died in my thermostat so it was only 13 C in the house. That is probably why I slept so well. Got them changed and then got ready to go to meet Donna at Moms as we had a plan to take her to buy some new, better fitting clothes. Turns out she is only a Medium or size 10/12 and all her clothes are XL or bigger, up to size 18! She got 4 new tops, two pairs of pants and new underwear. She also managed to get all her Christmas shopping done as I had a brilliant idea of Disney Gift cards for everyone, as we are going there in January. Ran into Christi in the mall. It was great to have a hug.
Avent earrings
Got home around 5:30 after taking my recycling to the bin and cooked a New Zealand pot pie that I bought at the market yesterday. Along with some rice it was really delicious and now I have lunch for tomorrow. I finished another puzzle (good thing as I bought 3 more on sale in the mall)
I picked up Rae-Anne from work just after 10 and after fueling up at the newly dropped price of 153.9/L, off to Kimberley we went. There was a major Christmas market at the Convention Centre up at the ski hill. There is a terrible lack of snow for this time of year. The making machines were going strong. After the market, where I only bought some of the pecan brittle that I had managed to avoid last weekend. The rest of the time in Kimberley was spent wandering the Platzl, hanging up posters for Encore. We checked out the cool little stores and I restocked my fridge with beverages from Earth’s Own. We tried to go to Whiskey Jack’s for lunch but it was closed for renovations. Our Place, on the Platzl was where we ended up. I had eggs benny, and enjoyed some of Rae’s fries as they are old school fresh cut ones and soooo good.
I dropped her at home just around 2:30 after a good catch up. The market where Ashlée was selling Norwex and her photography was on until 3 at the library so I headed over and ended up buying a very expensive bath mat and some other Norwex from her and a metal Jack Skellington from another vendor there.
I helped her out to her car after with all the stuff and it was nice to have a short but sweet visit.
I headed home and began my new puzzle. It is rather easy compared to the last ones. It felt like it was getting late when Deanne called to ask if I wanted to use Bill’s ticket and go to the Buck’s game with her. I was surprised it wasn’t even 6:30 yet. I met her there and as usual neither of us won any prizes from the program, nor the 50/50. It was fun to hang out with her and I am glad I went. Buck’s won and that was only the second game I have been to.
Home again to finish watching the series Squid Game and begin watching the game show version. I have enjoyed one of my special beverages and a lovely mellow evening since I got home.
I slept in a bit, puzzled a bit, surprised a friend a bit, worked quite a bit, got acupunctured a bit, visited a bit, volunteered a bit, Squid Gamed a lot.
I got some chores done this morning and then headed to Talaria Footware as they made a post last night that the boots I saw in the window were going to be 25% off today only. I chose between quite a few and settled back on the black shiny ones. They are lined, high enough to be over the average snow line, waterproof, zip up and, the really big and, is that they have flip down cleats!
From there I went to the Post Office and found only one person in line! Mailed off a wee package to my friends in Bella Bella who had put in a small shopping request.
Next stop was the Rotary lunch. I really enjoyed the talk given by the two guests, Chance Litke on behalf of JCI and Russ Klinghorn about HELP Honduras, a child sponsorship program.
I did get a lot done back at the office until it was time to head to a client who I had promised to be at after 5. I got everything I could done on his file and was out of there just after 8:30. I like getting his stuff done and just have to block out his whining about Quickbooks.
I should now be sleeping I suppose but I am watching another episode of Squid Games
Or easily entranced? I did work today, both for myself and for a mystery shop. I also bought CBD Tea bags to send to a friend in Bella Bella. There is no source there. Once home, I settled in watching my recorded Voice episodes and finished a puzzle. Then I started watching Squid Games which had been recommended to me as I worked on a new puzzle. And then suddenly I realized it was nearing midnight!
I need to not worry about what time I get into the office as long as I get the work done. That is why I am self-employed, right? I did work my butt off last month with long hours. I am being a little more relaxed this month. Although December comes with a lot of payroll reconciling and there is a new code I have to use on T4s this year so that will add to the job, it is a month that I can actually take time for me as well. Jan & Feb will be very busy with all the slips and December year-ends.
I worked a good part of the day and then ran out of steam. I had been up early to take a Dr call to renew my prescriptions. Nancy and Leanne from Rotary came to my office to meet and explain the process to become a member. They were both lovely and I look forward to volunteering with them. Just before 5 I picked up Lukas. We parked at the arena, hoping to eat at the Blue Sky Diner but it was closed, so we walked to Fenwick and Baker. I loved my chicken wings, but unfortunately there was something in the sauce on Lukas’s burger, the Samsquatch burger of the month, that he did not like. It was a shame, but we had a nice visit and walked back to find our seats. It was Christmas Rock Story, a Holiday Family Circus. There was an aerial/roller skate act that I have seen on AGT and the male singer was especially good. It was entertaining and I was glad to see a good turnout. Lukas seemed to really like it. We are lucky with the shows that go through here.
I was wakened too early by James II cleaning under my bed. Not sure why as he is scheduled for tomorrow. I can’t complain as he does a good job. I got to the office and worked on some annoying things before getting to take off and get my acupuncture done. Sebastian had me be facedown today so that he could concentrate on my back. I was skeptical but it does seem to be making a difference in my chronic pain issues as they slowly disappear. Stopped at Shoppers to mail my parcel to my cousin and noted that there was a popcorn popper that I wanted. I had purchased expensive make-up piñatas for the two girls for Christmas and discovered that I was rewarded with a big lump of PC points that paid for my new popper. Of course I came home, made some diner and then tried it out. Mmmmm mmm good. I am watching my junk TV and getting an early night as tomorrow is much more full and its the Christmas Rock Concert tomorrow night at the arena. There was a good bunch more snow last night and I wonder if it will stick around this time.
It was a stay at home, snow day. I did laundry, wrapped Christmas presents, watched Netflix and puzzled. It was wonderfully relaxing and I am now ready to full steam ahead into the season. I finished watch the sci fi series I was into, and can’t even recommend it. Just had to see it to the end. The next was “All The Light We Cannot See” which was fabulous, a must watch. Now I am watching the oddest mockumentary, Cunk on Earth. I loved today’s advent earrings
I am happy to say that my broken part of my elbow seems to be well mended. I can lean on my elbow again, woot! I am still going for acupuncture to deal with the circulation and muscle/tendon issues.
Ok, so I was so intoxicated last night, due to red wine, that I didn’t use my CPAP. I just fell into bed before 10 and woke up at 4:40! I tried to go back to sleep but still hadn’t clicked that I wasn’t using my machine and that it was likely the reason that I had a headache. I took Tylenol and more water and slept for a bit longer. Once I woke up, I made a plan to check out what events were going on in the area. It turns out that the snow was coming down heavy. Danika messaged to see if I wanted some Emmy time and it was then that I remembered I had left my car at the restaurant last night. I reached out to Diane, who had done the same and they said that they would pick me up. I retrieved may car, picked up Emmy and we headed to pick up Donna in Marysville on our way to check out the markets in Kimberley. The good and bad was that we had to follow a snow plow all the way. The road was clear but the plow created white outs in a few spots. We got there safely and headed to check out the Francophone school market in Meadowbrook, the markets at The Elks club, Centre 64 and at Bohemian Spirits. I picked up a few pairs of cute earrings, and mostly bought things that kids had made to support them. Emmy made some awesome purchases with her money. I was so thrilled to have such a good visit with her. I finally stopped in to Mountain and Pestle, my clients who opened a lovely pharmacy. I stopped at Earth’s Own Naturals, my other client, to pick up some CBD bath bombs, a beverage and some sleep aids. We then had a delicious lunch at Our Place in the Platzl before I popped in to Grist and Mash, my clients as well, where I stocked up on my favourite Maple Porter. Emmy slept all the way back to Cranbrook which was good as she was going to a Christmas party tonight and needed to rest up. I was surprised when Gwen came over and asked to be lifted up. When I had arrived earlier she called out NANA for the first time. It is so great to have the bonus grands. I popped home and shoveled before heading to my luxury pedicure appointment that I was lucky to get at the last moment. When that two hours was over, I dropped in to Encore to purchase tree decorations. For $10 you can feed two people Christmas dinner. Best $20 I spent all day. I stayed for a beverage and them James showed up and we played 5 games of pool. I held my own and came out the ultimate winner when he sewered on the 8 ball. It was fun and a perfect ending to the day. I did have a good visit with a friend and his service dog as well, hugging out the PTSD.
Today’s advent giftTeak root with blown glass to fitKimberley PlatzlGene, my grandson, the bar back with owner JesseThe seasonal beer, with a vision of Rae
Once I was home, I puzzled a bit and then decided it was time to tuck in early and get a good rest.
All I can say is that today was a great day, all around. I worked, got acupuncture And showed up for a party that I was having super social anxiety about. I made arrangements to pick up Cindy and take her to Encore for beverages and then head to Ella’s for the CFEK Christmas party. It was great and at the end I treated the International students to dessert which garnered many hugs. I was grateful for Cindy’s husband being our DD and getting me home safely. I will get my car back tomorrow, I have not felt this intoxicated in a long time and I was home by 9:15!
My advent from Rae and Ash was lovely, told I could open two the first day
triumphgal 