I had a relaxing morning, trying to get my new phone set up mostly and then decide to jump in the shower after lunch. When I got out, I could hear voices and then there was a bang on the door. It was Roger with Lukas and Sawyer here to deal with my willow tree. What a wonderful surprise as I had talked to Roger about it but not made a plan he has this super cool battery operated little chainsaw on the end of a pole that can extend. It was so hard to watch half my tree disappear, but I am hoping that is alive enough that new growth will come out of the parts we left. I did start a fire and started burning off some of the smaller sticks. He took a truckload of the bigger stuff away. And we got to that point just as it was time for me to leave for the arena to do 50-50 for the afternoon hockey game.
At one point, I took a quick picture and sent it to my cousin Jeanne to confirm that one of these young men was her grandson, Kye. Imagine his surprise when I called out hey Kye, do you guys mind moving so I can see the game too? I quickly told him I was his dad‘s cousin, and there was a chuckle all around. They were very polite and moved out of the way immediately. As it happened, I got to see very little of the game because the 50-50 pot kept getting higher and higher and the lineup was getting longer and longer and from about half an hour into the game until some minutes into the third period I was constantly selling tickets. In the end it got up to almost 12 grand and nobody claimed it!
Good news was we won one nothing knocking the Smokeaters out and moving onto the next round.
It was very nice to get home and appreciate how much was done in my yard even though there is much to do with clearing up the branches still. I may have to reach out for help though because my foot is on fire after walking on all the uneven grass today, raking and stooping to pick up branches and leaves and then walking on the concrete for the game. I need to be more careful 
I woke up after a decent sleep to a day that would be full of rain and snow and breaks and rain and snow and all the herring weather. I had received an email from Telus saying that I had signed up two years ago for the buyback program and that if I didn’t trade up my phone I would have to pay $420 before the end of April. Being that I trade my technology regularly this is not a surprise, but it also seems more significant with the news reporting that phones and other tech will go up due to the tariffs on items. Actually needed a cord that I had so I had it off drop that off borrowed the cord from her and then headed to the Telus in the mall. I came out with an iPhone 16 Pro and after going in checking, staples and winners came back and also bought a new case and pop socket with the proper holder for my car. It is pretty desert colored, and I have a clear sparkly case over it.
While I was in the mall, I checked out winners and managed to find what I think is a lovely Easter present for Madi who was mine in the gift draw this year amongst the adults.
Went home I sorted through all my cords and have an entire bag of lightning cords and a brand new case for any phone up to an iPhone 15. Of course I just bought the case last weekend on sale at Staples and it doesn’t fit my new phone because it has a side button for photos which I look forward to getting used to.
I stopped at the office on my way home, intending to hook up my hard drives and pull the photos off them so that they’re all in one place but as it turns out, I got distracted doing people‘s taxes and that is not necessarily a bad thing because it takes some of my workload away
Once home again, I made food and tried to work on my BB8, but I was just kinda not in the mood for it so now I am sitting here watching black mirror which I discovered has a new season on Netflix
It swings back-and-forth sometimes as if I am living in a grandfather clock. Swing to the left, positive things swing to the right, negative. my day can often be measured by those swings and if I’m lucky they alternate. Today was a little bit like that. I was sad to be poached by another in town of two of my files. They are both from the same owners two different companies. I have been doing their books since 2017 and thought we were friends, but I feel like something from two years ago which had nothing to do with our business relationship affected the husband who then ultimately had the wife deliver the news. I was caught off guard I was emotional. I stayed calm, but it was hard. I do wish them well, and as the day went on, I realized that it will be better for me. It will lighten my workload in the quarters that matter, and they still deal with paper, which doesn’t work well for me either so the only thing really that was hard especially was that I have a 30 day clause and had no notice Nor conversation before.
Shortly after that, I had the thought to check my Rotary app and found out that I am a Paul Harris fellow which is kind of a cool thing especially in my first full year. It really just means that I have donated $1000 US to Rotary in various ways between July 1 and June 30.
I was still a little rattled when I confirm that my on location client still needed me to come help them with their books. I left the office around 3:30 to head there. Over the next five hours, we did enjoy strawberry daiquiris made by her husband and once all the work was done and I was off the clock we all enjoyed some pizza. So that one was a bit of a quick swing of the pendulum as it was taxing on my brain to figure out how to solve their problems, but once it was solved, there was happy dance pizza, and daiquiris.
I got home to a notice from a friend from many many years ago, Dan Riordan, that he had created a painting, similar to one I had admired which he had already sold. I admit that having one done just for me makes it even more special. I shall pick it up when I go down to the coast in May.
I got to bed so late last night because of the hockey game that I set my alarm for nine but I still woke up before it and got myself together and was at the office to get a bunch of work done before I headed to Rotary
The meeting was great and it was our annual director’s report, etc. I was sitting with Dave Morley, who happened to mention that he was handing over the archive items to Bill Bennett because he wasn’t getting it done and I already knew that Bill Bennett had a lot on his plate so I suddenly realized that that could be my passion in Rotary the thing that I do and commit to, so I went and spoke to Bill and offered to take over the archiving and history of the club. I knew that I would learn a lot and enjoy it. It was my jam. I was so grateful when he stood up for happy bucks to announce it to the club and then Leanne gave happy bucks to celebrate. Of course, I had to match her donation by saying that I just love old things which everybody laughed at. I am glad that I am feeling avoid that is important to the historical timeline of our club.

On my way back to the office I stopped to drop off mom’s pills only to learn that she had broken a tooth so I need to make her a dentist appointment and also a doctor appointment by phone that I will take to renew her prescriptions and she said she needed a new shoes, but then she had three pairs of the same types of sandals that she wouldn’t give up one pair of but thought she needed a new pair cause she’s had them for 25 years I dare to argue with her that if she wasn’t willing to give any of them up and they were all still fine aware then she didn’t need a new pair and that she was going to have to cover her dental bills and that might be more important. She acquiesced. it is hard to become the mom to the woman who raised you . 

Back at the office, I tried to focus and get a lot done and then I headed to Encore for friends with benefits night, hanging out and having beers with the other friends with benefits before trivia night
I was so grateful that Brett showed up for trivia night and it was just he and I and we became the team Comfortably Dumb. We did surprisingly amazing for just the two of us coming in tied for third in the first half and then fifth overall behind all the other bigger teams. He already has a plan to bring two guys that I know and I have two women who will start coming in May and I think we’ll have a very well rounded team and I look forward to it but honestly, it was just really fun tonight with he and I. 
I’m sure there are other things that happened in the day but really I am tired and need to go to bed because it is after midnight and I’ve just come home from hockey game that started at 7 o’clock tonight. That’s right it was suddenly tied up with two goals for our team at the end of the third period. Three periods later we finally scored on them. Shot and go were astronomical those poor goalies we outshot 64 to 50. I had so much fun hanging up in the box with Dave and Robby and Jane and Jeff and Robin his wife and a few others. It was just so much fun. Will and Sawyer came up and visited for a while and we were super excited when their grandfather Bill won the 50-50 Something like $2900. A really great night all around.
It’s unusual that I didn’t take a single picture today or check in anywhere on social media.
I guess I was just staying in the moment. I’m working on that because I’m still struggling with numbers and stress in my sleep so trying to avoid it in my day.
I got a lot of work done. I stopped at Fenwick & baker where I had a nice visit with Sandi and Deb before giving Dave a ride to the box playoff game where he had given me a ticket to his box. Suite again. It was fun and Ashlée even came up for a little bit and we had a nice little visit which I was unusual and lovely. I’m also invited to be in the box tomorrow night and Dave and I are gonna do wing night beforehand so that will be fun.
It’s strangely refreshing to chat with a guy about his wife and his life and have him show you pictures of his two-year-old granddaughter who he went to visit for her birthday on the weekend and he’s also cool and generous and very kind.
The group in the box we’re pretty much all strangers although Ashlée pointed out that I knew Hollie as she had worked with Rae-Anne at RM in the past
I had a great conversation with Rob who I met tonight as he had recently retired from the railroad and it was fun to talk about my experience as the first female at this station.
It’s been very interesting, expanding my network so to speak making new friends and acquaintances, which I really didn’t expect at my age. So funny that I began by me just being brave enough to go find my own little spot at a bar that would become my local.
It was also really nice to get a text message from an unknown number, but that I recognized right away was Ethan Askey. He was inviting me to come out to see his band play the first weekend in May. So lovingly, thoughtful, but I had to explain to him that I was taking my friend for his cancer surgery and had to sell the ticket I had purchased to that concert. He replied that I was golden because when he went through his cancer treatments to help from family and friends, what got him through. I had forgotten that he went through that so it was really nice to have that moment. It was also just really nice that it was important to him that I was going to be there.
I really am blessed by the people in my life, and when I put the negatives on the scale against the positives positives are winning hands-down
So very very exhausted today. Didn’t get to sleep right away last night.
Work was a lot and my ankle is barking at me
At 5:30 I headed to Encore for beer samples and food as a $20 Friends With Benefits event. Things were tasty and I had a good visit with a woman who is a technician (bookkeeper) for what used to be BDO. We in the industry bond well this time of year.
Back home, I am watching the Gabby Petito documentary. so strange.
I had a great day. I got chores done. I went shopping and found outfits that I can choose from for the gala and also use for my cruise and I even bought the fanciest pair of crocs in town so that I have comfortable shiny shoes to go with my outfits as I still am not going to be able to wear heels and don’t want to have to wear runners
I came home and built a couple Mario Lego as I had to order some more wires to connect the lights on my BB eight as I struggled to get them connected and broke them
I stopped at Fenwick & baker and had a little food and visited with a couple from Fernie that were here for the concert as well before going to pick up Rhonda and heading to the arena.
The boxes basically at centralize so it was great to watch the show and as we were early, we got the front row seats.
First up was Headpins who of course I saw in the summer and they were actually better I think tonight
Next up was April Wine and they were as enjoyable as the last time I saw them
And then it was time for BTO with Tal Bachman and singer Lance Lapointe.
It’s funny after knowing both Randy and Tal in the past on Salt Spring Island to finally see them on the big stage. I have hung out with an introduced towel at dockside concerts back in 2008 2009. I’ve been in Randy’s house in studio back in the day although to be fair, he wasn’t there lol. It was an amazing round house and I worked for the company and I also knew his wife at the time very well. It seems surreal some days that this little river rat who grew up in the 70s has had the incredible privilege of knowing such talented and successful people. It was a great night all around and I’m super thankful to Dave for giving me the tickets. It’s only said that Jim couldn’t come because he’s still not feeling well but he did pick out a T-shirt from the picture I sent him and I will get that to him in the next day or two. Again, I am blessed by the people in my network to be able to call them friends.
I had quite a full day. I spent several hours going through winners and another store, trying to find an outfit for the gala and keeping an eye out for things for the cruise at the same time. I didn’t have a lot of luck, but will try again tomorrow. I really dislike trying on clothes when I’m so overweight again, but I also have intention to change that situation in the very near future. At 3:15 I had a most amazing luxury pedicure and then stopped at the house to see Sawyer and get a missing piece of Lego that I needed while there I was invited to join them for a pizza picnic at Idlewild Park. I can’t believe it was the first time I saw the Rotary peace pole which is truly beautiful. I came home and spent the evening working on my DBH. It is nearly complete except for I broke one of the little cables for the lights, but I will finish it tomorrow and order another one.
My ankle is doing much better. I was able to walk down the slope on uneven ground at the park. It is quite remarkable swollen, and it is at the moment. There is some promise that it be returned to its original size.
I had an extremely pleasant experience in one of the clothing stores when a woman be beside me called out my name with great surprise. I admit she had to give me a hint although I recognized her voice and I was so excited to reconnect after 30 or 35 years. Our first born children were born four days apart in the Kimberley hospital and we became best friends. I have wondered ever since I moved back whatever happened to Sandy and we made a promise to get together soon.
Seriously, in spite of the fact that I was once again awake at 5 AM and at the office far too early after work was a blast. I met my friend Diana and her husband at my place to cut some branches off my willow tree for a project she wants to do and then I’m at Brett and Jill and There are two girls at encore where it was insanely crowded for library themed night of trivia. We were lucky to finally get a booth when some people who were just eating left and the funny thing was that our team name Dewey decimator’s was the same name as Is the 10 people crew from the library itself so we became the Dewey designators 2.0 which we all know is better even though ultimately I think they won I mean, shouldn’t they? I was late for poker night but they blinded me in so I got there and played my darndest and for $25 I came home with 55 taking third Pl. Which also boost me up there in the standings. It was so nice to play again. I haven’t been there since before my breakage well that’s not actually true. I just realized I was there in my boot the last time so that was mid February.
I did make time for a manicure and Minh was shocked to see how bad my nails were in spite of how good they looked and it took nearly 2 hours to get them done, but they’re so pretty. I love them.
The first surprise was that I woke up just after 5 AM and I was wide awake so I got up and made a coffee and sat in my chair thinking I would fall asleep again, but no, so I was at the office before eight and got a great deal done before it was time to go pick up gala auction items from Dave at Canadian Tire and get to the Rotary lunch. Dave is so generous and surprised me by giving me a ticket to join him in his box at the arena for the first playoff games next week.
After the lunch, I stopped at Key City to pick up their Gala gift and pick up my ticket to the show this evening. That was surprise number two. In the morning I got an invite via messenger from Sarah Hagen to be her guest tonight. I confess not being well-versed on Johann Sebastian Bach nor the Goldberg variations, which she would be playing, but it was such a beautiful invitation that I was very happy to accept.
The seat that was chosen for me was in the second row on the aisle with a perfect angle of being able to watch her hands and the charts. I was mesmerized. And perhaps that was the third surprise, I loved it. I don’t think it was my imagination that at moments her hands were a blur. They were moving so fast, the fingers across the keys, creating a story and emotion without any words.
In the lobby before the show, she had a display of a print for each variation art that she had created to express that variation. I found them interesting and chaotic and colourful and confusing and then I saw variation 30 the last of them and felt joy to the world. I purchased it immediately with a red dot so that people could experience it. After the show, Sarah graciously signed my CD and initialled beside her signature on the print which was funny because she seemed hesitant and then commented that it was beautiful done in the gold sharpie.
I did manage to surprise her by wearing my 2019 MusicFest T-shirt, which had the artistic grand piano on the front and her name amongst the artists on the back.
Went home I framed and hung her piece immediately so that it wouldn’t get damaged. I’m glad I keep extra frames around for when I am moved by art. 
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day work wise was being able to keep my boundaries and not react to some of the issues that are still coming up from the organization that I am getting ready to ghost lol.
My bulbs are starting to grow. My mind has had enough of bullying and bullshit. It is spring baby and I am done with things that hold me back. See me Bloom.
The worst part of my day was getting to the point of exasperation and replying to an email that I quit. When people are foolish enough to not want to be trained because they think they know everything and then proceed to mess things up and expect me to be able to deal with it… As a volunteer… I reserve the right to say I am done.
The best part of my day was going to celebrate my friend Galen’s 50th birthday, which began with drinks and dinner with friends at the Heid-out followed by the first outdoor fire of 2025 at their home.
In between feelings were based on the fact that I had my last postop appointment with my surgeon at 8:30 this morning with x-rays to find out that my ankle is healing well and she feels strongly that it is moving in the right direction. I may have pain for up to a year, but likely the pain I am feeling right now is due to overuse and I should take it easy. I think I can do that. I celebrated with a Canadiano and a puffed wheat square from Max’s.
triumphgal 