Today was very very very very very full. I accomplished a great deal at work, and for the festival. Rotary lunch was lovely as the meal was very good and two of the young ambassadors gave a talk about what they have learned in the program of spirit of the Rockies.
After that, I headed to Encore where $1300 of grub and a great deal of alcohol had been brought in and Ryan and I sorted by band into totes. A couple things were paid for but not with the order from superstore so I headed back there to get them and had no problem at all.
I then went to Brett and Jill‘s for some dinner and several games of Outsmarted. It was a very nice time and they have a lovely home with an incredible yard. I enjoy seeing how my friends live and hope to have them here sometime soon.
I got it this morning and put on my pretty new dress that I bought and for the first time since my ankle injury, a pair of wedged heels. I was pleased to see at the end of the day that there wasn’t a lot more swelling than usual so that’s a good sign. There was a barbeque at the Ground Floor today for our member mingle. Had some nice visits and made plans to play trivia at Brett and Jill’s tomorrow night.
I did manage to finish all of the must do things for July in spite of information coming in even last minute today. Tomorrow will be busy, so that is a relief.
At 6 o’clock, I attended a free workshop put on by Association for science and technology. KAST does these fairly regularly, but this is the first one that I was able to attend. It was about dreams. The guy who put it on has developed an app called dream well which helps you to lucid dream apparently in a way that will stir your creativity and goals. We’ll see.
I finished my cats and shoes puzzle and it was enjoyable, starting now on a Schitt’s Creek one which should be fun.
I also want to recommend the Netflix limited series about Kalief Browder. It really is something.. I am now starting Who Killed Malcolm X
Today I got a lot done and then picked up Mom’s pills and dropped them off before meeting Sven at Encore for a meeting about a Rotary newsletter. While we were there, my earthquake warning went off that there had been an. 8.8 off Kamchatka, Russia. It is the 6th strongest ever and there is now a Tsunami advisory in place along the BC Coast as well as Japan, Hawaii, etc. I mentioned to Sven that this would happen and he scoffed, clearly a flat lander having come from Ontario.
I remember when I was in Shearwater in the central coast when the big one happened in Japan. I was on a small boat and we crossed the ripple that was the tsunami. It was unnerving, even if it was small by the time it reached us.
I had worked on the puzzle I was in the middle of and then realized I hated it so why was I doing it? I put it all back in the box and put it in the donation box I have going and started on another. This one makes me happy, Shoes, and Cats!
After my meeting with Sven, I did stop at Walmart to look for a tiara and some Halal style outfits which I knew Layla had bought there. I didn’t find either of those.
I did come home with some on sale Lego and a bag of cherries though. And a pretty dress. 
Yesterday cousin Donna dropped off the Lego sorting head that I bought on marketplace and that she picked up for me in Marysville. I like it very much.
Sometime mid afternoon, the sky opened up and pounded down so hard. It sounded like hail and then less than an hour later I went outside to find there wasn’t even a drop on my car or the sidewalk or anywhere. It was dry as a bone. my flowers are ridiculously blooming though, so they love it.
After my regular office hours, I worked on the updated riders that had not been forwarded to us. Fortunately, there were only a few changes. Then I went to a Rotary merchant committee meeting where seven women sat around and discussed member retention, which was very enjoyable.
Came home and worked on my puzzle for a little while before relaxing in my chair winding down. There’s a lot to accomplish this week so I need to go to bed before midnight tonight. 
It was decently cool this morning, so I got out and mowed my lawn. If I didn’t do it soon I was going to need to bale it. So I had a coffee and sorted my puzzle pieces and headed out.
I came back in had some food worked on my puzzle, then showered and got ready to head to Rotary on the rocks at the Popoff’s house. They have such a lovely spot which held almost 30 of us and Ron had done incredible barbecued ribs, mac & cheese coleslaw, and Johanna’s delicious desserts. It was a nice turn out lots of good conversation and laughs. I was tasked by our social media crew to take pictures and at least one video for them to use.
The problem of course with all that good food was, I was beginning to fade and need a nap and I hadn’t even been drinking! I did come home and finish a big chunk of the puzzle as I started season three of White Lotus. I can see what all the fuss was about as it is very very well written.
I stepped out at one point and saw that I had a visitor.
Maya sent me pictures of her son today but I still don’t know his name
I was disappointed to learn that Jake didn’t receive his package yet for his birthday. It was sent on Monday from somewhere in Canada. I hope the guy told me the truth that he did send it then.
I knocked three big things off my list today so that felt good and I believe that was left on it of must use. I can accomplish early next week.
I came home, continued working on my puzzle and made some delicious turkey tacos before finishing the puzzle, having one of my enhanced beverages and watching a bit of White Lotus before bed the puzzle was harder than some, easier than most and there was one piece missing
I was in the middle of the trivia night when my brother called that his youngest daughter, Maya, had her baby boy. No name yet. 8 lbs 2oz. Mom and babe are doing well. I was sure it was my news to share but…. It is my first experience as a ‘great’
Today was actually pretty great. I gave my Rotary convention PowerPoint presentation at lunch and it was very well received. Unfortunately, I couldn’t eat lunch and the smell was incredibly overpowering enough to make me feel a little icky afterwards as they served up roasted peppers. Rick told how he got back our gravel that had been taken when Steve Roberge visited. He in turn stole their gavel. It was a fun meeting.
I got a lot of work done as well as finished off the non-perishable food and beverage order as well as the alcohol order form.
And then headed to Encore in time to reserve a booth where Brett and J D joined me to become Forrest Grump
We got our best score ever 52 out of 60 and won $155 which was great. It will be our last time until September as none of us feel confident with the Harry Potter one next week and there is none in August.
Hmm. Today was full of meetings and work and Rider follow up. I also took the time to make a special edition item for one of the bands. Shhh, Don’t tell them.
The Ground Floor community manager is quick and efficient creating things for the cricut. And I think it turned out brilliant.
Once Home, I probably should’ve mowed the lawn, but it still had rained so much that it was pretty wet for how tall it is. Supposed to get sunny from now on so it won’t hurt to wait till Saturday. Instead, I did Lego. Well, a Lego puzzle that is.
I was reminiscing this morning as I finished the wooden Salt Spring puzzle that I borrowed from Rae. The puzzle itself was challenging because of the shape of the pieces, but the map itself was a walk down memory lane. I didn’t have to look at the box to know where the roads and lakes were etc.. It occurred to me then that I had lived for 15 years on Salt Spring and it has now been 15 since I left. I had a good life, good friends, great experiences, and provided a wonderful space for my son. It really was a significant time in both our lives. There is much I miss about it.
From our going away party in 2010
The day was full with client work and hours spent getting the orders together for the food and the alcohol for the festival. I didn’t leave the office until eight, but it was very productive time and I came home and made dinner and started a new puzzle. I was burning through my Lego too fast so thought I’d do a Lego puzzle instead. 
It sure has been raining a lot. I am going to have to mow my lawn this weekend or I will have to bale it!
Rae came to the office and we went over the spreadsheet I had created and then I contacted Tour Managers about the things I couldn’t supply. The response was awesome so far. Once i hear from everyone, I will start shopping.
After work it was time to celebrate Roger’s 42nd. We had a great visit with Fred & Niki, Jesse & Nesta, Bill & Deanne, Jeff & Dee-Anne and the kids. Sushi for the win! I gave him a double sized hammock that I brought from Ecuador.
Came home to watch my shows and finish the wooden puzzle . it was fun
I spent the afternoon compiling all the riders into a spreadsheet. I have everything ready to meet with Rae tomorrow and go over it. I also emailed all the tour managers to make a connection.
Once I’d done my recycling, I came home and started working on a wooden puzzle of Salt Spring Island. I stopped to make some food and am watching the final season of Bloodline as all my laundry and bedding is completed.
I went to the office and spent a couple hours putting together a PowerPoint of the Rotary international conference for the Thursday meeting. It turned out pretty great, just have to decide what to say. I then started working on the Rider list for Rock the Kootenay. After that I headed to Dave and Deb’s for 5:30 BBQ.
Turns out their adult kids decided to go for a hike and didn’t make it back until nearly 8. Thank goodness was Steve and Candis brought appies as I hadn’t eaten all day.
I had the best visit after dinner with Sarah, the daughter Autumn’s best friend from grade 5. She is studying law and would love to live in Seville! We made a plan for me to check it out and I potentially have a new roommate.
I also braved asking if the kids share the views and politics of the parents. They do not.
While I was at the office a big storm happened. I also got pics of the blanket that I made for Maya’s baby, and her special model.
I was taking out for a delicious lunch at the Heid-out today by Rosie, who is in town to help out with her brother Dan’s wife, Terry. Terry has very bad dementia and can’t be left alone and it’s Dan’s grad reunion weekend. We had a super good visit and a delicious burger, and I went back to the office. I did get quite a bit done and one of the ideas that we came up with over lunch I followed up on. In one of my favourite bands riders hidden in the sound rider was a comment that they would like to have the Brown M&M’s that Van Halen didn’t want. I went to the boat barn after work and stayed and visited with a manager Lukas, who was good friends with my grandson Gene. While we chatted, I use the scoop to pick out as many of the brown ones as I could, and then I went down the mall to the dollar store and found a nice screw top jar to put them in. Lukas also gave me a very good deal on them because he’s a sweetie and he said he’s had many meals at his house so wanted to give me a deal. I came home and washed the jar and it turns out I had exactly the number of brown M&Ms to fill it.
I then finished off my super Mario kart which is one of the most fun bills I’ve done so far
I am now nearly finished my pixelated Mario and Yoshi. It’s quite brilliant as well. stay tuned!
I am starting to get excited about the festival and I’m going to go into the office tomorrow afternoon so I can use my two big screens and work on the list to do the shopping and then I will meet with Rayann on Monday to make a plan and discuss things further
After work I went to Encore with my Mac and the rider binder and worked on a spreadsheet until Jill and Brett arrived for trivia. JD showed up and we were a well rounded team. We came in second by only one point. It was fun and I enjoyed it.
I came home and continued working on my Mario Kart. It is big and beautiful. it has 17 bags of parts!
Today was a lot because I had to make sure I was ready and at the office with all systems go for a zoom meeting at 10 AM with a client in an earlier time zone. I didn’t really want to be there today, but I was committed. As it turned out, she forgot about it completely and it got rescheduled at least for 11 and after an hour, I had promised a client to call her as soon as that call was done and that call went for three hours. These were zoom meetings where I had to watch the tone of my face as much as my voice. I managed, but it took a lot out of me. The good thing was shortly after that last call I received the email telling me that the bid had been accepted and I will be the hospitality queen for the festival in August. It’s funny how that makes me happy but didn’t quite bring me up out of the gloom yet. I saw a post from Jesse the owner of Encore about a band that was playing there tonight for only $15. I made myself go and be there for it and I’m glad I did. They were really good even if the sound was shoddy. After a point though no matter how much I was grooving and enjoying, I couldn’t help thinking about being home doing Lego. So when they took a break, I got myself a sticker for the back of my car because their band name and the sticker totally suited, and made my way home. I have been watching my recordings and started to build my Mario project which has 17 bags so it should take longer than the others. It is good to be home.
So I have a pretty good awareness of my mental health. I am fully aware that I am in a classic depression. At this moment in time, well for sometime now, my happy place is at my dining room table building Lego and watching TV. The problem is it’s the only place that I am truly focussed and energized. I don’t want to go to sleep. I have trouble staying asleep once I get there or if I do sleep, I have lucid dreams so I am tired all day in spite of waking up before my alarm. And so I build. It’s almost as if I knew I would need this big stack of Lego to work my way through. I will keep building until I feel like I want to do other things again. I force myself to do things outside my home, but they drain me completely. Inside my home I should wash my floors, vacuum my carpet, scrub my bathtub. I am managing to cook for myself and run the dishwasher keeping the kitchen decent and I make my bed every morning. Those are positive, and I do know that this will pass, that I am grieving.
triumphgal 