I apparently am still carrying stress as I woke up super early again. It is a remembery day as it would have been my cousin Kelly’s 62nd birthday had she not been murdered. That is one that you really can’t shed entirely. Disease is one thing, absolute senseless is another.
I finished my bunny, took a bath, finished Season 1 of Loudermilk and headed to take my recycling before stopping at Encore for a bite and to watch the kids have fun. I ordered the adult juice box, added soda and cranberry, to make my own Mimosa.
Jake took me for a drive to Walmart in his Tesla and tested the self-driving (and parking!) mode.
I do love my gift from Kimberly, it makes me smile
I stopped at Mom’s and had a quick nap in her chair before bringing her to the Easter Family and Friends gathering at Bill & Deanne’s . The search was fun and we did our usual pictures after a delicious BBQ. I gave Rae and Ash their matching to mine necklaces and Jake a Lovebullies album as well as things for the others.
I dropped Mom back at home and started another puzzle as I watch Season 2 of Loudermilk.
I woke up far too early stewing over an email I received yesterday from a seasonal client. I decided to get up and respond, and once againI set a boundary and moved someone along. There is a great deal of freedom that comes in owning your own life and letting the negative go. I finished my puzzle finally and showered and dressed in time for our ABC Zoom. It was nice to hear from the couples who travelled to the Galapagos since our last chat. They each had very different experiences and mine will be a hybrid of the two.
I picked up Jake for a late lunch after we got the meat for tomorrows BBQ with the whole dang bunch of friends and family. We went to FireHall and I filled my burger of the month card. The burger was delicious and we had a nice catch up. He loved the gift I got him from his favorite artist. His birthday isn’t until July but I couldn’t wait and won’t be here when he comes up as I will be at VIMF. I do believe he was truly surprised.
Once I got home again, I did a few outside chores and then came in and watched the first season of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin while I did Lego. It’s pretty funny in a Monty Python kind of way. After that I watched CODA which I thought I had already seen but still enjoyed it very much. Now I have finished another puzzle and am watching Loudermilk.
I can’t let go of a comment to me earlier tonight.
I showed a new friend a picture of my kids as she knew who my oldest was and when she saw Jake she said, ‘Oh’
A few questions were asked that lead me to tell his origin story and her first question was… “ was the rape violent?”
I found myself floundering for a response. In 30 years, that was a first. I managed to stammer out, “well, I wasn’t hospitalized” And then her next question was, “ wasn’t ending the pregnancy an option?” I truthfully responded “not for me” and then I honestly just wanted to get out of the conversation entirely.
I had not felt so judged since the time I told my closest male friend after it happened and he asked me what I was wearing.
I wish other people did not have such control over my emotions.
I slept in, puzzled and did chores. Headed to Encore for Rotary on the Rocks. A whole group of us ate and bowled and had a great time before heading up to Nancy’s for a nightcap. It’s a fun group. I stopped to give Jake a hug on the way home as he had arrived from the coast. I look forward to seeing him and Emmy tomorrow.
This morning I ran errands including picking up an amazing gift of a night in the train car at the Prestige which is 375.00 a night for our Rotary Fundraiser. The lunch was early today as it was together with The Chamber and the guest speaker was Mayor Wayne Price. he gave a very informative, albeit long talk. I
picked up a gift card from the restaurant in the hotel and arranged to get a tour of our History Centre rail display to complete the package. Once back at the office I struck another few things off my list before my friend Kimberly came to have her taxes done. We had a good visit and then it was time to pick up Tracey and head to Key City to watch the Sunrise Rotary presentation of One Life. Anthony Hopkins was excellent in this true story of an amazing man. That man rescued 669 children refugees from Prague with Hitler making his way there. For perspective, of the 1000s of children from Czechoslovakia sent to concentration camps, only 200 survived. It is a beautiful and touching story.
I got a lot of work done, even filed 3 tax returns! I then took out a Burger of the Month from ABC and headed to volunteer at our Winter Ale Series at Key City. Fraser and Gabrielle opened. They were very enjoyable. The Lovebullies blew the roof off with their vintage style pop rock. I thoroughly enjoyed them and the great chats over the course of the evening. I would see them again for sure!
My new Lego arrived complete with an Easter gift
I am now at the creepy part of my puzzle.
And I completely forgot that I won two tickets to the Bellamy brothers concert in April for volunteering at Key City Theatre!
Tuesday, an ode to Tuesday… you are not Monday, nor are you humpday, but you hold all the hours to get much done. Thank you
I worked and then stopped at Encore for food and a quick visit with Rae before coming home to puzzle.
Breaking happy news today was that The Milk Carton Kids are coming to VIMF this year! Even Jake remembered how much we loved them when we saw them oh so many years ago.
Today was a lot. I got a lot done and them went to The Heidout for a beverage while I waited for the FPPAS AGM at 7. Had a nice short visit with Trevor before he headed off to his rehearsal. It was nice to catch up. The meeting was good and there was a decent turn out of new and old people. No one stepped up to replace our two retiring board members but the rest of us were voted back in. The Heidout put out a beautiful spread of charcuterie and desserts which they donated. They are always more than generous to the organizations in town and I really appreciate them. Afterwards, 4 of us board members and a husband met at Boston Pizza for a beverage. The conversation was interesting and overwhelming in the same breath. I was walking a fine line of listening and steering in the direction of what could work. It wasn’t always taken well, there was wine involved and I was nursing a beer.
I had a decent sleep, worked on Jake’s boss’s face. This is the owner of Linus Media Group. it is slightly odd to see his pores in bigger than life mode. I also crocheted. I did go to the office for a couple hours to work on FPPAS stuff. Came home and watched The Junos. Nelly Furtado did a great job. Anne Murray looks fantastic.
Yep I woke up feeling rough, but improved with hydration. Tracey took me to get my car and I stopped at Safeway to get makings for dairy and non-dairy cheesy cauliflower.
I cooked and prepped and then settled down to finish my puzzle. Once done I started working on my Star Wars Lego. It was a very enjoyable set which I finished later.
The instructions are thick
I went for dinner but the turkey was running late so I had some ham and cauliflower which was delicious and a sliver of pumpkin pie. It was nice to see everyone even for a short visit.
Tonight I worked as usher for the James and Jamesy Easy as Pie show. It was quite a brilliant clown show about PTSD. I know that sounds odd but it was a good balance of funny and interaction and pathos. I enjoyed them last time they were here in March 2020 and did again.
Now I am starting a new puzzle of Jake’s bosses face.
How is it possible that lockdown was four years ago already? I have been blogging since the day I went home from the office to ride out the pandemic. It is almost unimaginable that it has been that long already, especially since the first period of time seemed to stretch into oblivion. I have learned a lot about myself.
I joined Rotary and learn so much each week, this week about the stage 4 drought we are already in with the reduced snow pack. I found the joy of cooking again and being healthy. I let some things, groups and friends go. I struggled to set boundaries, but found great relief when enough time passed to allow me to let the guilt go. I lost too many people; friends and family. I felt the pain because they loved me and I loved them.
More importantly, tonight I thank you for hanging in. I thank you for reading along, for judging silently, for supporting loudly and for being you. Whatever reason there is that you read this silly blurt of my life, it makes me happy to know you are here and I hope you find something in it. Maybe some joy, maybe some encouragement, maybe some empathy… in any case, you make my life fuller by knowing you are there.. and here is to many more years together.
I shall press on (and I am sorry for the poor grammar and punctuation. I don’t want to edit too much or I lose the flow)
I woke up out of a vivid dream at 5:39am. I was unnerved by spending time with my three lost friends and stressed that I would lose the 4th, telling him to not die. I posted on FaceBook and several friends from various places in the world said they had similar ominous feelings. I wonder what happened in the world that we all felt the pain of it.
My Easter treats arrived today. I came home and put them in the eggs that came with them and labeled them for the hunt. I think people will like them. There are 14 adults and 12 kids so we are drawing names between adults and just getting things for each of the kids. I spent a bit for fun toys and am glad for the name I drew.
I am watching The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping on Netflix. It is a well done yet horrifying Documentary. Those poor children.
It was a productive work day, I took the moments to be calm and think of my friend and the memories. It felt good. The phrase, They’re All Dead, Dave kept running through my head as it was the sticker Gordon gave me on my last visit with him. I may rewatch Red Dwarf this weekend… in honour.
I was grateful for a Rotary meeting to discuss the August Chili Cookoff which is co-presented with Fisher Peak. I was happy to bring good points to the table and Lallah was an amazing host who made us a pulled pork dinner.
I came home and watched shows while I puzzled. It is satisfying to be doing a Star Wars galaxy puzzle while I learn to let go.
Today had work. Today had a good burger and a delicious drink. Today had joy.
Today had loss. At 420 this afternoon our dear Gordon moved on. He is out of pain after an 18 month battle with Cancer. His wife and son will have to find their new norm.
Today is sad and happy at the same time. I began a puzzle to try to distract myself, to sit in the feels at an appropriate depth
Emmy was so cute when I went to tuck in last night. I had to mover her so i could get into bed. I left the tiny flamingo lights on in the bathroom and she thanked me in the morning as apparently she got up ‘like 5 times’ last night. We had a cuddle in for a bit and then got up to get on with the day.
We got dressed and headed across to the swings. Good giggles were had and then we played pretend basketball with pinecones. She is smart and creative and fun and it was the first real day that felt like spring. We laughed at how small the slide seems now when I used to fear her going on it as a wee thing. We popped back home to have a little breakfast before her Mom picked her up. I look forward to seeing her again at Easter when Jake will pick her up and bring her down.
She made a video promise that she will still want to spend time with me a decade from now, lol.
After she left I did a few more chores and then built my small lego before crocheting and watching the last three episodes of Masters of the Air. It was really incredible and even more so as it is based on real guys. I watched The Bloody 100th, a documentary about the guys after and it was worthy of a few tears. The Street Fighter Ken was off brand and wee little blocks. It was more challenging and I actually had a nail peel back while I was doing it. I will have to go get that fixed soon.
I made cottage pie which is delicious and then settled down to watch Zone of Interest, the last of the Oscar nominated movies to watch. It was horrifying.
It was so hot today that I actually had to turn on the AC as I was melty.
Today was the day to do my Family Tree that I bought at the Lego Store in Downtown Disney. I honestly thought it would take longer, but I did enjoy it. It wasn’t that hard as I was able to do it while watching the movie with subtitles.
My puzzle sorters were handy once again. I loved that there is a wee heart deep in the core of the trunk right where the branches spread out. Such a cool touch. I do love it, will just have to get some wee pics made.
Danika had reached out to see if Emmy could come for the night so they could have a date night in town. I was happy to switch gears and said yes. I spent the day doing some long put off chores. I hadn’t put away my luggage yet from my trip, all laundry done was still waiting to be put away and there were more dirty clothes to deal with. I have slobbed out for the last little while and needed to get a start on the mess. I took all my shirts off the shelves as I had no room in the messy piles to put anything away. They are all sorted by music, sports, plain and pithy, as well as by sleeve (or no sleeve) length. I added a few to the thrift box but I dare say, now that I have shrunk back down into my older ones, I have no more room, lol. The top shelf is seasonal.
When Emmy arrived, I was readying to cut a piece of flooring to fill the spot where the previous owner had gone around a shelving unit that I removed. I put a filler piece so that my new to me shelf could be put in place. I intend to use it for my new hobby, Lego. Emmy helped by dumping an old plants dirt into a hole that needed to be filled in the yard. It was warm enough that I had to open the house doors for the evening rather than turn on the AC.
We had such a great evening. I have her a choice between the Talapia and potatoes or Cottage Pie. She chose the fish, and we both agreed that we didn’t want the zucchini. She helped make it and was game to try the tartar sauce. To my joy, she devoured dinner with continuous exclamations of how good it was. She ate an entire huge plate, leaving only a few potatoes which she ate as a snack before bed.
While I was cooking she began work on my special edition Lego that I received in Downtown Disney Lego store. She finished all of the base and a chunk of the animals body, finding amazement that there were such details in its organs when we wouldn’t even see them. I finished it off with her permission when she went to bed. Turns out that my puzzle sorters work great for Lego as well!
Over dinner we watched the 1994 version of Thumbelina and gosh did she keep me entertained with her running commentary on how odd and ugly so much of it was, that everyone looked like they were trying to poop when they talked. She even got up and imitated it at several points. She wasn’t wrong, the 1953 version of Peter Pan had the same kind of animation. She had been raised on the best. We did enjoy the movies over all and I loved telling her how when I was under 10, I had a flower in a pot that I would twist the stem and the petals would open to reveal a tiny doll, Thumbelina. I loved it
I am so glad she came to stay, she has requested a stroll to the park across the way in the morning, and looks forward to a smashing breakfast, lol.
I worked hard and then went for lunch at Ella’s with Rae-Anne. We had the burger month burger and it was delicious. It was great to have a good catch up as well. After that I dropped off things at a client and was back to the office to power through some reconciling and payroll before going to see Ireland for a waxing. Then it was off to the arena to volunteer for Rotary 50/50 again. I had fun as usual. I am just so darn tired! Will was happy to learn that I had given him $150 for his band trip. He was super lovey dovey all evening. I stayed for the third period and sadly we lost. It turns out that the guy who was standing in front of me last week is the father of Sookro, one of the players who scored tonight.
Danika reached out to see if I could have Emmy overnight tomorrow and I do miss her, so agreed. Before that, I shall sleep in.
I was so incredibly stressed in anticipation of my Bio presentation today at Rotary that I couldn’t even eat. It went very well though and people were amazing afterward. I picked up Mom’s pills and had a short visit before heading to a client for a bit and then back to the office where I plowed on until 8 before coming home to collapse and watch Survivor and Big Brother Canada. While watching I won a swack more money. So, here are the stats. Between Nov 20 2023 and March 6 2024 in amounts from $50 to $200 I have deposited $1100 total to play and buy lottery tickets. In the last three days I have withdrawn a total of $8300 and still have $500 to play with.
I know it is a good streak that will end and I will not put more in. It is some good lucky streak. I even drew the 50/50 ticket today and it is chase the Ace. He pulled the Ace of Spades and won! I guess I rubbed off, lol.
triumphgal 