triumphgal

December 12, 2025

Did good work, had some food and a few visits and then home to kick back. Puzzle is halfway done

December 11, 2025

I arrived at work to a surprise gift from Doug, one of my clients

Rotary lunch was so so sandwich day but the speaker was great informing us about the Starlight campaign fundraiser

I gave out my gifts to the office crew. Kerstin tried hers and it worked. Everyone seemed excited to try.

I had an hour long massage in my leg and ankle. Ashley was good, a little chatty, but it helped

I had a good visit with Mike and Jenny before trivia with Brett. We were not great but it was fun

December 10, 2025

With the strange weather, we’re having it rained all the snow away yesterday and then woke up to snow this morning with it already beginning to rain again. Apparently there is even evacuation orders in Port Chilliwack again because of the atmospheric river that hit. I did find it interesting the formation that fell off my lights.

I picked up Rae-Anne at 11:15 to attend the chamber an annual fundraiser turkey drive luncheon. It was at Encore again this year and over $65,000 was raised with the amount being split evenly between the Food Bank and the Salvation Army locally. Jason Cavan from one of the local radio stations raised $38,000!

There was a Christmas tree decorating contest as usual and CFEK did their own crazy thing but this year tied for the worst tree, and there was a tie for the Best tree which was settled by rock paper scissors, and we won! Mike from strategic fire control and Rae-Anne and I received gift cards from Dash eatery for our reindeer tree

After stopping at Fenwick & baker for wing night, I came home and wrapped presents. I feel that it was a responsible kind of Christmas with everyone getting something that suited them and I didn’t need to spend a whole lot to find the right things. I am still waiting for a couple of things to come in the mail, but otherwise I am done. 

December 9, 2025

I started the day at the hospital, getting an x-ray and seeing my surgeon, Dr. Vaile. After checking everything out, she believes it is what I first thought that scar tissue has built up, and the nerve that goes across the front of my leg catches on it or is capsulated by it. She showed me the x-rays from right after the surgery compared to now and everything is exactly where it’s supposed to be, which is a huge relief considering I rolled my ankle a couple of times on the cobblestones on my trip. Her recommendation is that I find a good registered massage therapist or physical therapist who can massage it to break up the scar tissue. When I was on the trip, I did have a good foot massage on the ship and one by Rae-Anne in our hotel and both times and had them immediate positive effect on my ability to walk. She wants me to try and get a massage as often as possible. I am going to have to find someone who could get me in. Next month, her intention is to give me a shot of freezing and I think she said sailing into the scar tissue which breaks it up and that will help as well. It was such a relief to find out that there is nothing seriously wrong. My body isn’t trying to reject the metal or anything like that.

I had a good day at the office, but did find myself getting a little bit grumpy towards the end, which is the first time since I’ve been back. I struggle to not lecture my client that it is most important that when she gets an email she prints and gives me the invoices not when she gets around to it so that it becomes an an urgent thing for me to deal with. Anyway, I shall reclaim my Zen and focus on being kind.

I came home and did a little decorating in my living room, putting out some special decorations that were handy and built my Lego Nutcracker. He’s cute.

I really miss my Texas Posse. I need to make a plan that ensures when I’m going to see them all next. I feel similarly about my UK Besties. It is hard to have such strong connection and memories and not know when you’re going to see someone again, if ever.

When people ask me how my trip was my instant response is that it was life-changing. I have a joked that it was the most expensive therapy I’ve ever paid for but the most effective. It’s not really a joke. Along the way, I learned the value of me. I enjoyed so much spreading love and accepting love and just being me and experiencing the joy when people saw me again when I returned. I need a pin that feeling as a way point for when I start to slide mentally so that I can remember how good this feels right now.

December 8, 2025

It was super windy last night so I went outside early to find chaos

Mr & Mrs Snow were up to their old antics.

Looked like there was a big driveway party

I hung my wreath which always pleases me when I come home

It was lovely to get to the office and find a card from a board member who sat with us on Friday night.

Mid afternoon I got a text from Bejea asking if I could pick her up to go for a beverage after work. She had fallen last week and it was too far of a walk. I did and we had a good visit with Bob, catching up. It was Bob 67th birthday today so the three of us had a volcano shot in honour. Baja Rosa and Black Sambuca which tastes like tiger ice cream! I also had the Yorkies, which are new on the menu and they were delicious 

Funny enough the best part of my day may have been getting my teeth cleaned because my hygienist is eight months pregnant and several times while she was cleaning ended up with her belly up against the side of my face. Praying that the baby would kick. It seems so intimate and lovely and she is a lovely human who is looking forward to her first.

December 7, 2025

I built my Vespa and it is gorgeous.

I picked up Will and he came to help me hang my TV and put my inflatables up

I then dropped him, fuelled up and then went to the office to build my holiday train. It was nice to put on some music and enjoy the build

I did love coming home to the decorations

December 6, 2025

I enjoyed our ABC zoom this morning with the ones who showed up. It was nice to be able to share about my trip and the new Texas Posse.

I spent the afternoon watching shows with my feet up. I am glad to be seeing my surgeon on Tuesday

The evening, after cooking a nummy meal, was spent doing the puzzle Tiffany gave me

It even came with a chocolate scent candle.

A day off that I needed for sure

December 5, 2025

I was awake at 5:30 for the second day in a row not sure what that’s all about but I know that it leads to a very long day. I did manage to wrap up some files and that pleases me because one of them in particular was starting to worry away at my Zen mood. It started to snow again, which complicated things as far as the fact that we were driving to Kimberley at the end of the day. Mid afternoon, we took some photos and then decorated the tree outside my office. I came home and got changed picked up Rayann and then went to Groundfloor to pick up Bryan and James the two janitors and we all added for the CFEK Christmas dinner. This year it was at UVA in the Larix hotel in Kimberly, which used to be the Cominco Mine office building. They have done a beautiful job of renovating it. The restaurant was spectacular and we had the whole place to ourselves with a family style service of food. The courses just kept coming and they were fancy and delicious., big city quality. I had a great time getting to know the board member Tracey better and we agree that we need to get together for martinis in the near future. I took my time driving home dropped everyone off and I’m settled in for whatever weather the weekend brings.

December 4, 2025

Today was different. I did something that I have never done before. I can’t say there are a lot of of those moments left in this life. I filed my middle child’s divorce papers for her today. It was bittersweet. The end was long ago and yet the end it was now.

After Rotary, which was interesting as Milo did the last of his time on the cruise ships presentation, I went to mom’s and picked up her credit card that needed to be activated. I went to shoppers and bought her the things that she needed and mailed off my cards and a parcel, which made me laugh because it was so tiny and the smallest most economical way to send it was a prepaid box.

I had an inkling to stop in at Ella’s for a beverage before trivia and was thrilled to see that my friend Marcel was there playing music in a trio. It was good to see his wife and two kids there as well and it was such a nice vibe to sit at the bar and have a beverage and just enjoy the Christmas music and lovely atmosphere.

I was super thrilled to find out that Jill and Brett came out to play trivia tonight and we had fun being the 3 jolly old elves. We were in first place after the first round, but dropped to fourth after the second the music was really hard. It seems that none of us are very good at country.

My poor car is so dirty from being on the road only one side of it mind you

My adventure puzzle is coming along. It’s actually a little too easy doing it this way, but I am enjoying it.

December 3, 2025

I wish I’d remembered to take pictures of the spread of food that was so ridiculous. Today was the Groundfloor Christmas lunch for all of the members and Ashley and Shannon put on an incredible Mediterranean style luncheon. It was nice to visit and take some time out of the busy day. I did some errands and then stopped for wing night at Fenwick & Baker before heading home to catch a good night sleep

December 2, 2025

I had a good day in the office again. Then I went to see Ireland for waxing and Minh for nails. He was running late so it was around seven when we’re done in the mall had closed at six. When I left, he closed up behind me and I went to the main doors of the mall which turned out to be locked and then I went to the gates and they also were locked so I went back to his store and fortunately, he hadn’t left yet. We went out the back way and he gave me a ride in his Mercedes around to my car in the front parking lot. I was very grateful because it would’ve been a cold long walk around the mall to get to my car. He’s a good guy. I’m glad I tipped him well lol

My stats are not very good this week you can tell I’ve been mostly working, but I am slowly losing weight so that’s good. Cutting out day drinking helps ha ha

December 1, 2025

It was another satisfying workday.

Rae-Anne had messaged me to pop by as she had an advent gift for me. It’s 1008 piece puzzle in 24 little boxes.

My poor Texas Posse is experiencing a little winter weather

The saddest news of the day was finding out that rock the Kooteney’s is canceled. I was looking forward to working it next year. Apparently it lost $14,000 this year and isn’t feasible going forward. I hate to say that I think it’s the lineup and things could’ve been done differently, but I don’t have the money to promote this one.

A good part of the day was that a guy was looking for TV boxes as he ships pictures in them. I will bring mine to the Ground Floor tomorrow and he will pick it up complete with all the packing material materials. Saves me an annoying trip to the transfer station because of the Styrofoam.