triumphgal

June 30, 2024

I did go and work for the afternoon and then came home to eat before playing Outsmarted with Mark. Still hard to believe 2024 is half over already.

June 29, 2024

I woke up to texts from an out of town client who was stressed about a banking issue. He needed info from me that was at my office, so I showered and headed there early. That was the best thing to do!

I solved his problem.

I got all of my MusicFest binders completed, emailed previews to all the Stage Managers and Tech Crews, completed the things I needed to do for Thursday night, the first of Summer Sounds, and even got 6 hours in on a file after taking care of payroll and payments for two others.

I took a break out in the sun at one point and saw someone walking towards me. We practically ran into each others arms and had the biggest hug. This was amazing all on it’s own as my friend Varghese is NOT a hugger. I was so happy to see him back in town. He moved away a few years ago and has recently been on my mind a lot. No surprise, he’s living here again. We had a great sidewalk chat and hope to get together for a good visit soon.

I worked until I felt it was a good stopping point and then came home to make some food, finished Acapulco Season 3 and have just been relaxing and started The Big Door Prize.

It is the first in so many days that I feel relaxed and not stressed about the things to come.

June 29, 2024

I woke up to texts from an out of town client who was stressed about a banking issue. He needed info from me that was at my office, so I showered and headed there early. That was the best thing to do!

I solved his problem.

I got all of my MusicFest binders completed, emailed previews to all the Stage Managers and Tech Crews, completed the things I needed to do for Thursday night, the first of Summer Sounds, and even got 6 hours in on a file after taking care of payroll and payments for two others.

I took a break out in the sun at one point and saw someone walking towards me. We practically ran into each others arms and had the biggest hug. This was amazing all on it’s own as my friend Varghese is NOT a hugger. I was so happy to see him back in town. He moved away a few years ago and has recently been on my mind a lot. No surprise, he’s living here again. We had a great sidewalk chat and hope to get together for a good visit soon.

I worked until I felt it was a good stopping point and then came home to make some food, finished Acapulco Season 3 and have just been relaxing and started The Big Door Prize.

It is the first in so many days that I feel relaxed and not stressed about the things to come.

June 28, 2024

This morning after very little sleep I awoke hours before my alarm and decided just to get up and at it. Good thing, as at just after 8, Mom called to say she hadn’t been feeling well that last couple days and did a test with the strips I got her for UTI. She said it was dark, and she was worried. The gift from above had already let me know she was suffering. I reached out to Rae-Anne to arrange bringing Granny to the Urgent Care Clinic, who are her Dr in lieu of a family Dr. I have sadness that it took so long, but I am glad as I spent over 7 hours working on one file today around a meeting with our Board President.

It turns out that it was not a great experience for either of them. This a little bit broke me. I am the one who advocates for her and I wasn’t there. The basically blew her off by telling her to drink more water, which she does, and gave a prescription for Antibiotics with the caution that she not take them unless her urine burns. I have told them repeatedly that this is not a symptom for her. I am unhappy with our medical system at the moment and will reach out to my ‘Family’ doctors to see if he will take her on. They even said she was to be on Blood Pressure meds but no one has tole us that, nor was I given a prescription.

Thank God for Rae-Anne being there to get all the info.

I finally left the office after 7 and came home to have a short visit with Tracey . Now I am going to have a special bevie and chill as I will work all weekend.

June 27, 2024

Today was full of lists and check marks.

I enjoyed Rotary lunch where the Kin club gave a talk. It was interesting to learn about them. The original Kinsmen Club was started by a guy who was declined by Rotary as his father was a member and back then only one of each profession could be members. He and his dad were both plumbers, so, he started his own service club. I was also presented with the cheque for Fisher Peak to help us with Summer Sounds expenses

I managed to get a fair bit of work done and slip out to have my nails redone as I had broken one on Tuesday

I went to Encore just after 6:30 to find the place packed for the Friends Trivia night, except none of my team were there. Sarah Turk was there with her friend Carla and I joined them. We were in second for the first 5 rounds but ended up third. It was a lot of fun though and I am surprised how much of it I knew, even some that they didn’t! Kelly Frampton joined us whose Dad is on my strata board and it was nice chatting with her as she and my daughter Ashlée used to be close. I encouraged her to reach out again.

I stopped to drop off some papers and found Gene and his friend Lukas getting ready to go to a big adventure in Kelowna (Kamloops?) where they will do paramilitary games that includes a helicopter ride to the top of the mountain, pellet guns and camping. He is all grown up now.

June 26, 2024

Today was broken up by taking mom to hav her growth on her arm removed for biopsy. I pointed out the ‘Ugly Mole’ on her back and they chose to biopsy that one as well. I won’t share pictures

After work we all met at the Guedes house for spaghetti to say goodbye to the two exchange students and then Rae and I headed to Encore for the $20 music night. Two members of Shred Kelly opened for The Free Label and it was the best 20 I have spent in a very long time. The energy and performance was electric. Afterward the guys were thanking me for the energy that I brought to the place and even gave me a sticker for my car.

I posted to Ryan McMahons personal page that he was already on the Marquee for his show in September. He replied that the guy on the bottom right was super excited, so Rae staged a photo to reply

It was a great night, only wish more peeps had been there!

June 25, 2024

I was up early fretting about the vaccines I need for travel. I dropped my car at the dealership to get the decals and the bug deflector added. When I got dropped back at the office, I called the Travel Medicine Clinic to find that many that I got in 2013 may not be expired as some are good for much longer now. I made an appointment for July 4th to find out what I need and get ready for the trip.

I worked until it was time for Cindy’s going away party at the GroundFloor. I had a glass of Sangria and a bit of a visit before getting more work done and then getting picked up to get my car back.

I am so thrilled with how it came out. I did a couple errands, finished fixing a client’s file and then came home to spend a couple hours cleaning my cargo basket, reinstalling the Thule rails properly (thank God) and getting my whip all ready for travel. I love it so much. I even put a couple of stickers on that I got in Honda Centre to honour my hockey team, and some that Mark made me to carry Sackboy along on my journeys. Now it just needs a good wash to get the pollen and dust off.

I found my missing Loop while I was working on the car. It is a little worse for wear, probably ran over it with the truck on Sunday.

I finally settled in after making some air fryer perogies. Quick and filling

I had actually been very fragile earlier as I got a generic email that I didn’t get a part in the CCT season of shows. I wish I cared less, but I really wanted to be on stage with a couple of the ladies there. I feel like I am saying goodbye to theatre. It was such a large part of my whole life, that it is a type of mourning. I feel big change coming in my life though and it is time to let local theatre go. Sniff.

I expressed it to a friend as feeling ungrounded, unsure of who I am and, well, old.

And then I climbed a ladder and worked on my car and did not old things. I feel much better now.

Sidebar, I am enjoying Acapulco on Apple TV+. It is very charming.

June 24, 2024

Today’s Cole’s Notes:

The Edmonton Oilers lost 2-1 to the Florida Panthers in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. It was a hard played game and I am happy for the Florida fans that it happened on their home ice. It is a franchise first for them. Yes, it would be nice if a Canadian team had won, but it is only a game.

I received my security items that I ordered off Temu and they are actually very good quality. The app is well reviewed for the security camera and set up was easy, the picture is great and I love that it is motion activated as well. I also got a spare key keeper with a changeable code that is now secured to the house.

I got the funniest email that I have received in a long time.

I worked on my weather afghan, but think that I may have to start another on July 1st as it is already quite large.

It is a daily record of the high and low temperature at the weather station nearest to where I am that day. Ours is at the Cranbrook airport. The temperature is often higher at my house, but it makes it consistent to use the airport. The cold snap in January followed by the days in California, several days later, really stand out. For reference, yellow is 23-30.9 C and the Black and burgundy -16 to -31

June 23, 2024

Emmy slept 10 hours last night, but 6:15 still came early. We had a lovely morning playing together and giving her a spa treatment with a big bubble bath, her hair done and her nails painted. she played Wii while I made us a lovely salmon lunch. She devoured the salmon and wished there was more.

Roger dropped off the boys and traded me vehicles so we could use his truck to take away all the branches. Not too long later Emmy got picked up but not before she got to have some fun helping as well. Lukas was amazing as it was very windy and he got up there with the handsaw and I had the roped pull things down and we had to cut off a lot of branches from my tree in hope of saving it. We gathered all the branches with the help of Tracey even and loaded them into the truck and took them all to the yard section at the transfer station. My tree looks so sad now, but I have hope for it. I never could’ve gotten all that done without all the help either. There are still a few bear branches, but they are too high up and it was far too windy to risk Lukas reaching them.

After I dropped everyone off, I came home and puzzled for a little bit and then made my last Hello Fresh meal for the week so that it doesn’t go to waste and I’m glad I did because I wasn’t going to eat and it was delicious and now I have two meals for tomorrow as well

It is a great relief to have those chores done, including the laundry, etc., that I got done indoors today 

June 22, 2024

I got up and headed down to Rotary Park to meet the family and watch Gene perform with the jazz band. It was a perfect day and we headed to Encore for lunch after having a visit with Mom. Cassidy rode with me in the jeep as she didn’t remember it from when she was little.

Danika showed up to drop Emmy off as she and Malcolm are headed to a wedding in Creston. Gwen came in for a visit. She isn’t shy anymore and came to me easily.

After lunch, Kym, Cassidy, Lukas, Will, Sawyer, Emmy and I, all went to see Inside Out 2. It is a very good portrayal of anxiety, and the other emotional responses that kick in with puberty.

After the movie we met at Bill and Deanne’s where Roger cooked up a delicious BBQ. It was a good visit and meal. The kids had great fun playing with their older cousin Cass and soon it was time to come home.

Emmy fell asleep easily and now I should follow suit!

June 21, 2024

It was a jeep day today which always makes me happy. The sun was out and people are smiling. The day ended with my Poker league final. I came in 4th. The first three got money. I’m surprised I lasted that long as my cards were shite most of the night. All in all a decent day.

June 20, 2024

I worked after a good long sleep and then I went to Rotary lunch, which was very interesting as they had the representatives there from the new scooter program in town

Back at the office, I got a shite ton done before heading to Encore to meet my friends for trivia night. There were eight of us and as the Yeastie Boys we came in first

I started the day with an amazing call from a doctor at the urgent Care clinic who had read Mom‘s chart in full and we had a good discussion about her, possibly being over medicated and then need to make adjustments. I was very happy to hear that all of the things I’ve been pushing mom to keep doing like moving often eating small meals regularly and drinking lots of water were all on her list of checks. I found out that my brother Greg and his wife are driving up tomorrow and we will all meet with mom on Saturday to discuss things. She tends to listen to Greg.

I was thrilled when Dave and Deb showed up with their daughter, Autumn as they have finally moved Cranbrook and are trying to convince her to do the same. she is an RN and would be a valuable asset here, here

I drove home from Encore in the Jeep having to stop for gas left me driving in the extreme dusk. I called on my guardian angel dad to get me home safely as my headlights are still not working.

It worked. I am now home safe and tucking in for the night, sweet dreams all.

June 19, 2024

That is how I moved through the day after finally getting mom settled back at home and my head getting to hit the pillow at 2 AM which of course didn’t mean I could get to sleep right away.

It’s hard because they didn’t really find anything wrong. Just put her on some diuretic, but confirm there wasn’t anything wrong with her heart. Just don’t know why her legs are swelling up and she gets dizzy spells. I started her on a journal of food and exercise and marking down when she gets those spells so we can try to figure out if anything is triggering it Today, her cousin Rosie from out of town came and we had a nice lunch at Mom’s apartment and then Rosie took her to her doctors appointment after I ran around and got her pills and other errands for her.

I did manage to get a sufficient number of things done at the office that were piling up for people, but I had to finally stop as I was afraid I would start making mistakes from being so tired

I came home and made some food and sat nodding off in my chair, watching SNL and I’m now tucking in

Good night

June 18, 2024

I was just about to tuck in when a woman called from where Mom lives to say she had pushed her life alert and was found sitting on her bedroom floor. I met the ambulance at the hospital and they seem to have ruled out her heart causing her leg swelling and feeling like she’s faint. More bloodwork to come and I am grateful for Dr Bernard who is older, thorough, and has a nice bedside manner. I hope not to be here all night, but shall stay as long as she needs me.

June 18, 2024

Today I felt like I hit the ground running, was constantly watching the clock, and everything was hinged on everything else being on time. Unfortunately, my big payroll came in late, which made me late for an EdFest meeting, which made me late for the social I committed to and on it went, I am glad that I went to Judy‘s for the Rotary ladies potluck even if I showed up empty-handed as there was plenty of food and plenty of laughs among the eight of us or so that were there. it rained and hailed and sunned and did all the things today and I am now home curled up in my chair crocheting planning to hit the hay early as I have a lot again tomorrow, of course 

I’m too tired to even correct the punctuation above so good night

June 17, 2024

It was an action packed work day and I made it to The Heidout just in time for the Children’s Fest appreciation get together. As it happens there was only Monica, Julia, Galen and me. We had appys and drinks and desserts and great conversations. A perfect end to the day.

June 16, 2024

I forgot that yesterday morning I trimmed a bunch of the bad branches from my willow before I left. It was a surprise when I looked out.

I popped up to visit Gene to give him his birthday present of 4 nice dress shirts and had a visit with the fam while I was there. It was nice to catch up and I had some leftover Kraft dinner and a delicious Latte that Roger made me before finishing it off with a tasty cookie made by Lukas.

Gene was a good sport and re-enacted a photo from the day I met him.

From there I went to the office and worked until after 8 on the binders for MusicFest. They are only missing a few things. And that is a big weight off. There is much to do in the next 3 weeks. I haven’t even begun to plan my trip there and back.

It was late to eat but I made a good meal for tonight and lunch tomorrow.

I am now crocheting and watching Schmigadoon Season 2 which is just so perfectly odd that I can’t look away.

June 16, 2024

I was up at a decent time and headed to park outside Ashlée’s to walk down and meet everyone outside Morchella’s to watch the Spirit of the Rockies parade. On my way down I met Walter from Rotary working alone to get a barricade set up on the FireHall//Rotary Park corner. I stopped to assist and found he didn’t have someone to assist at that busy intersection so I volunteered to stay with him. We were a good team. It was a great spot near to the end of the parade and many needed to be turned away that were trying to get into the route to park.

The poor Ambassadors were several blocks away when the sky opened up and poured hard. People were scrambling and unaware of their interruption of the traffic flow, keeping the girls in the rain even longer.

I decided not to go to Balmont Park, but go to the office and work on MusicFest binders. I got 4 done which feels good and I hope to go in and finish them tomorrow.

I headed to the park in time to grab some food from the trucks and a good coffee and I also got to see Nikki, my friend from GroundFloor, get 10th her first time out for the Strong’Man’ competition. So happy for her.

50/50 duty was interesting tonight. My partner in crime, dropped his stuff and said he was leaving when others complained about him. I stayed out of it and took over, which ended up being way more fun in the end. The pot was good and I enjoyed that part of the evening.

The opening band was Flatline Phoenix, whom I had never heard of, but they were a great cover band, getting the audience pumped.

The next was Men Without Hats, and in spite of them playing three versions of the same song, they were fun and entertaining.

And then there was Loverboy, the band that most people had come to see. Mike looked like an old auntie, kept ducking behind an amp stack to cough, and, well, was beyond his best before date. So disappointing, and someone actually yelled out, ‘You Suck’ as they left. I am an avid, stay to the end, kind of person, but even I left early. I was glad I hadn’t paid to be there.

I loved when my friend Keon showed up with a cowbell, made my night. I bought one piece of merch.

June 14, 2024

Lots of work today. Started getting texts and calls before 8:30

Stopped at Encore for a bite to eat before heading to the Arena to do 50/50 for Rotary. The concert tonight was very poorly attended, maybe 250-300, but the bands were great

First up was Cameron Whitcomb from Nanaimo who was on American Idol back in 2022. He was my favourite of the night. Great voice and message.

Next was Julian Austin who even at my age rocked the stage

Finally, Jess Moskaluke, who was super interactive with the crowd and lovely to listen to.

Found a friend