That is it the exact number of days I have been on this planet. The last 392 of them have been solidly in this new Pandemic world. There is so much to look back on. So many hopes that we would have returned to the old ways, but the phrase ‘new norm’ has taken on a deeper meaning now. I suspect I will always feel more comfortable in a mask… or will I? I have always had an obsession about germs so I would mask it in a different way, block the fear out by just living and being. I overrode my fear with carefree indifference, a j’ois de vivre that would allow me to go out and do anything at all. I chose to be a hugger, even to strangers who I could feel really needed one. I kissed with passion and relished being in crowds, feeding on the energy of both. I ate from street vendors and shared meals from questionable kitchens, I brushed my teeth with the water in Foreign countries. I have been blessed with a strong constitution. This past 400 days has upset my equilibrium and I have found myself becoming even more judgy and afraid. Risk assessment levels have increased. I rely on the knowledge that in general fear is based on the unknown. I will only break through when I have jumped back on the horse.. or plane.
This eve of my 58th birthday I once again look to as a New Year’s Eve of sorts. I have mulled on the things I have enjoyed this year and make intention to do more of them. I choose to spend more time one on one with my kids and grandkids, FaceTime/Zoom with dear friends and family, puzzle and garden and craft, walk near water as much as possible, keep my home ready for company and pay attention to self care. I do feel as though it has been a circuit breaker reset for my life. I choose to see that positive but be so aware of the lives lost. I will continue to write letters, send cards and express gratitude. I will continue to work on my attitude as just being straight up is not an excuse for rudeness or leaving anyone feeling judged. I will own my shit and clean up the messes I sometimes make… because it is never too late, there is always time for personal growth and deepening of relationship.
Today I didn’t even get dressed until near 3 pm and then Rae and I planned to go for a walk but it started to rain so we walked in the mall which thankfully was nearly deserted and we were able to even browse in empty stores. We both felt sorry for the shop keepers. We did go to Winners where I picked up a colander to use to hold my clothes pegs. As it turned out it suited my kitchen best and I used my antique one to hang outside.
Such a change of weather from yesterday that it even started snowing!
It was a puzzle day again. I am getting some of the easier ones done as I work toward the Star Wars and Marvel ones…
Off to sleep now, for tomorrow brings the start of another spin round the sun
It was an amazing day all around, even though I managed to roast myself in the unseasonably gorgeous sun.
First there was the ABC Zoom Club where great chats and laughs were had, ending with some interesting debate about The Royal/Non Royals. I agree that airing dirty laundry can be awkward but also it is the way of the world that we are all in each other’s business. It is the nature of entertainment to expose the underbelly, to be a voyeur, to escape, or compare ones own life through observing others. I may be naive some days but I also feel love for the history of the crown and hate for it and colonization in the same breath. It was sad to know today was the funeral of the Queen’s beloved husband and that reality is she will pass in this decade as well.
Next was walking with Emmy over to the playground at the elementary school the boys go to and having Roger and Rae bring them to play. It is an amazing area full of so many options for play and imagination including the newest addition of parkour.
Roger was wearing the best shirt!
From there we walked over to my place where Roger hung the hammocks while Gene raked my yard and Rae and I walked with the rest of the kids to Elizabeth Lake bird sanctuary. It was lovely but Obie was not behaving well, wouldn’t walk on lead properly as usual and was really pulling so Rae messaged Roger to come get him and I walked back with the kids. They hung out in my yard for the rest of the afternoon. We filled the small pool and Emmy especially had a great time. She sure loves playing with her cousins. They were really respectful of not coming into my house except to use the bathroom and Sawyer made a point of telling me he would not touch anything in my house or I could get ‘The Covid’ and die. Will liked his new shorts we made out of his very ripped pants.
Emmy was picked up and the three older boys walked home. Sawyer and I finished washing my car as he and Emmy had started to earlier. When we were done we tried to convince Missy to come in the house but she was still spooked from Obie trying to lunge at her earlier. We left to go to Bill and Deanne’s as they had graciously invited me to dinner there with the kids for my birthday. They have a large enough deck for us to be safe and I use wore my mask when we were close at all. Dinner was brisket which was tender deliciousness, Ashlée had made a cherry chip cake and I was spoiled. The Guedes clan gave me a 3000 piece Marvel puzzle! I will have to expand my table to do it. Ashlée gave me the coolest Jack pointillism picture to do with sticky gems and Deanne made a lovely Llama card.
I came home and finished the last of the Disney puzzle set. I have so many good ones now to look forward to.
Before we went out today Emmy and I got a card ready to send to her Dad as he had left a sock here. She picked the card and the pink envelope and then I talked her through writing her own name. I think she did an amazing job for just turned . I love that her Ms look like hearts.
Another multitasking kind of day. I was thrilled that George the janitor showed up to detail my car. He was looking for some extra work and I paid him to do that. He took great care vacuuming and wiping down the inside. I hope to do the outside tomorrow while Emmy is here. It is supposed to be beautiful and warm. It felt good to turn on the outside taps and water the bulbs. I was motivated to leave winter behind and advertised my snow thrower for free on the Cranbrook Facebook buy and sell. I probably should have charged for it as one minute later a man asked if he could come see and then 4 more people said next. I was happy that it was an older couple though and I explained I was giving it for free in case it didn’t work because it would be worth it for them to spend money to get it fixed. I never bothered trying since 2018 when I bought all the yard gear from the previous owner. Tired of moving it around. I oddly love shoveling and most days you only need to sweep. I also listed a lovely pair of shoes that came wrong size as I have given up finding someone I know who will fit them. I was beginning to feel like Prince Charming looking for my Cinderella. I feel as though I have finally broken the back of April and today I realized there are still two full weeks left. This allowed me to stop and have a glass of wine outside with others in the co-work community, compliments of Viola. It was 21 degrees!! I also realized I do not need to go in to work this weekend. (Insert heavy sigh or jig of joy) Tonight was another puzzle night but I will say it was awesome to have the door open and the smell of Spring in the house. I wanted to have my friends over to complete the invitation to watch a show outside around the fire but by the time it got dark it had dropped to 10 already. Maybe another week or two. My lifelong friend, Julie, sent me a lovely card and two micro towels to clean my glasses and electronics which reminded her of me. Those are exactly my love language gifts. I thrive on the knowledge that people think of me. That is not just ego, maybe a little ego, but mostly just that connection that equals love and a reason to be. Julie has always been team Marnée, even when I am my cranky self and that is unconditional love at it’s finest. I wish she was allowed to travel here and visit again. Soon…
I finished a puzzle and worked on the biggest in the collection. Thankfully, today my cases arrived for my phone. It feels good not to worry about glass slivers when I pick it up! Somehow I have managed to stay up until 2 in the morning and I have an ABC Zoom in the morning as well as Emmy. I best get to sleep!
Today is the 80th birthday of my second step-mother or as she coined herself, the WSM – Wicked Step Mother. I have known her since I was 12 or 13, her first husband and my Dad were best friends. George died from heart failure, my parents split, Dad and Donna got together in my late teens and the rest is history as they say. She is his widow. The day he crashed his plane, May 8 2004 was the day that ended life as she knew it and she would never be the same. Her grief somehow along the way blended deeply into the depression she already experienced. In many ways I lost her along the way. We have had at times a glorious fulfilling relationship full of long hours of intelligent conversation and at others a distance that is so real I think I will never have relationship with her again. Now I fear that she is lost to me but every few months I send a card or a note and hope she gets them and knows somewhere inside that she is loved. I do miss her, she was never a mother to me in her mind but she was generous and loving in her own way. I think she just had so much sadness in her life that she fell into the love of my father and never recovered from his loss. I wish her all the joy she can muster on this day. It is just so sad to see such an incredible mind turn on itself. She was an International Baccalaureate English and Latin teacher at a prestigious school in Vancouver, well recognized by her peers and students. I sometimes wonder and fear if a big brain has a shelf life.
Picked up a new client today and it was so strange talking to him on the phone as he sounded exactly like my friend Kelly on Salt Spring Island. He came to sign some papers and even looked like him! I am grateful to the other bookkeeper in the co-working space for referring him to me. I see myself working with his family for years to come.
I was meeting with a client when a friend came in that knows her as well. She automatically hugged her and then me while I had my back turned at my desk. I literally flinched. We aren’t hugging and it caught me off guard. I think it was just her usual exuberance but I was surprised especially since the client was not wearing a mask. It surprises me still how lightly this is still being taken even though we have 23 cases currently in Cranbrook including a Varient of Concern at our high school. I do feel bad that I responded as I did without saying anything though. I am honestly too tired to filter these days.
Sidebar: my cat is currently stalking imaginary things and racing around the house like a kitten even slamming into furniture. It is quite amusing.
My lovely first step-mom, the woman I call mom, sent me a birthday card with a cheque that nicely covered my manicure today. It was well needed as I had to get it done before I started keying wrong because they were too long. The woman who does my nails was actually chatty today and it was nice. I think I am usually there towards the end of her peopled out day. Today I went on my lunch and that was a nice break in the day.
I had a MusicFest moments type of day as I was musing how handy all my lanyards have turned out to be. I can find one to match every mask and outfit and mood. I use them to hold them around my neck so I am never caught without. Part way through the day I saw the notification that the band of a woman I have known for years as the emcee at VimF had released their single We Were Young. Big Little Lions reached out for pictures of people from their past and I happened to see it and sent along 4 from the 60s and 70s. They used them all!! Check that off the bucket list! I am in a Music Video, lol
Today was another very full day and I knew it would be so I dressed up nice, put on my favourite jewelry, straightened my imaginary crown and headed out. I was remarkably blessed when my friend Maureen dropped off tulips and a card with a pink balloon attached. It was so sweet and she said the white tulips were for peace. All I know was that they made me smile. And then I opened the card! So remember that card I received from my friends on Salt Spring Island? That was from my Mary Lynn who has a bedroom that is a tribute to Audrey Hepburn and I used to have a Miata I called Audrey which ML and I loved to cruise around in with our big sunglasses and pink scarves. Maureen had no idea of that back story but she managed to pick the perfect card.
What a perfect gift of flowers, love and great memories! That definitely perked up my month. I wish ML and I could spend time together like we did in the past. It is a big birthday for her on Sunday and a getting closer one for me on Monday. Now I have my two favorites and she has hers that I was surprised she still has and sent me a picture of via text today.
Got to meet at the theatre again today with the President and The electrician to make clear plans for the Tech booth. We are having issues getting permission to do a big theatre restoration that we received a 178000.00 grant for. The city inspector is saying we need architects and engineers and potentially a sprinkler system in our historical building. This has never come up previously and we are on the last stage of the renovation, the theatre proper… it is frustrating and disheartening. Trying hard to stay positive.
Came home to what was still a gorgeous day, a warm evening. Chatted with the new Neighbour and I am enjoying getting to know her. Came in to find it already very warm. When I left home it was -2 and when I got home it was 18 outside and 21 inside. I did get the quote to finish connecting AC to my furnace and it is just north of 3500 dollars so I will have to think about that. Need to make a budget to pay taxes next year. I can do that as I am nearly done with spending on my renovation and there is no where to go.
I received information that there is a potential stay at home order coming in BC so I booked my nail appointment for tomorrow on lunch. Not sure whether it is true but I am ready no matter what. I have an abundance of puzzles….
I woke up happy and put my hair up to enjoy Bad Robot. My lovely new microwave arrived, I made enough money in the second half of 2020 to owe CRA a hefty chunk, I got a lot of work done and I know my business is successful.
Downs:
I dropped my phone and shattered the back of it, I was lied to to my face, I made enough money in the second half of 2020 to owe CRA a hefty chunk.
Icy snow on the ground this morning, blanketing the gentle but strong plants peeking out of the garden bed, the ground barely thawed, they sprout the first flowers of Spring.
Today I worked hard, multitasked to such a degree I barely remember what I did. I am grateful for the software I purchased to keep time of what I do so I can bill appropriately. I highly recommend Timeular. The birthday card I received last week from Salt Spring Island had the same date stamp as the invoice I finally received today from the business across the street. I wonder where the sorting facility is??? It was a big invoice and I shall be paying for a while but am blessed I had the empty credit card that I could pay for my furnace with. Not sure what I would have done otherwise. I have over time purchased most of the materials to redo my bathroom although I may have to trade in a Gold Crown for the one sheet of plywood I will need to repair the floor. I did get a deal offer from Home Depot for my birthday month so I best take advantage.
My new entry carpet arrived from Ruggable. I love it and am super impressed with the quality. It come in two parts and the top is able to go through the washer and dryer. Did I mention that I love it?!
The day stayed cool and the sun popped out between the squalls of hail and snow. Once again it was Herring weather in the Kootenays. Right on schedule, just a long way from the saltchuck.
Got home late again and made dinner before finishing a couple puzzles. I am doing them without looking at the pictures to make them a little more challenging as they are a style I find very easy. Fun though.
And that was the most exciting part of the day. It was gorgeous sunshine but hovered around zero so my clothes pins never melted in the puddle of water from the recent rain and snow. I posted about it on FaceBook and it started a clever little conversation about that sounding like a euphemism for something naughty which of course went well with my laundry hanging mantra: Bottoms Up, Tops Down.
I went in to work and did Family and Framily tax returns as well as a quarterly file that got some major items off my list. Came home, made some dinner and watched Manifest as I did another puzzle. It was easy and I am enjoying Manifest so far. I like watching it on demand so I don’t have to keep fast forwarding through the commercials. Interesting concept. Wonder where they will go with this story.
Went to bed gleeful as I had no alarm to set. It is the best part of my Friday and Saturday nights. The relief that I can just sleep and have no FOMO… although, this morning I awoke around 8 and was going to roll over and try to sleep more but I was wide awake in spite of goin got sleep after 1. I got up and headed to make a cup f coffee when I remembered a puzzle I had bid on in a Facebook bid war was coming to the end time of 8:09. I had last bid after midnight and when I looked only one other person had bid 50 cents more 4 hours earlier. I bid 50 cents more at 8:06 and won a great looking Star Wars puzzle.
There is a part of me that thinks I should be reading books and cross stitching but I really am enjoying puzzles as I watch my shows. I went to work and typed a great lot of numbers in and then came home and played with shapes. It just occurred to me that cross stitch is also a combination of numbers and shapes. I guess that is my superpower, making sense of and creating order in a numerical world. Shapes are numerical. Everything has an angle and a specific fit. It is likely the same superpower that allows me to see a well drawn plan and picture it finished in my head. I do that often with words on a page as well. It’s why I love and hate Stephen King in the same read, I have to skip over some bits in a read fast kind of way. That is because I see what I am reading. People will be talking and I have to stop them sometimes. I laugh and say Field of Daisies. It is a joke way of me saying I want to brain erase what I am visualizing.
Today included hail and snow and sun and a lovely safe visit with my friend Diane R. She had some puzzles I had lent her to return and I just miss her. We are making a plan for her to come along with me on my next work trip to Radium once the world has relaxed a bit more. It will be nice to have someone come along.
I was at my office until 8:30 taking care of some client stuff and one of my volunteer obligations for the month. It felt good to get it off my plate. I came home and continued watching Assembly Required with Tim Allen and Richard Karn. I find the series interesting as Tim calls Richard his ride or die, which is creepy and he is often short tempered with him. Anyway, the funny thing is Google must be a sponsor as they ask Google things a few times in every episode and my Google Home answers every time. It kept setting timers.
I finished a puzzle I had been working on for two weeks and then finished two others in 2.5 hours. What fun to be doing different ones!!
The first news of my day was that Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II had died at the age of 99. I had seen the news reels of him heading home from the hospital and thought he did not look long for this world. I feel sad for her as she has known him her whole life and he has been her rock (as she put it). It has been an interesting day listening to all the anecdotes . Jean Chretien told some lovely and funny remembrances. I was happy to see the flags lowered around Cranbrook in respect.
The first task of my day was to take my car to the Honda dealership for its B1 service which was basically an oil change, tire rotation and brake check. I believe the expected amount should have come to under $300. I did agree to adding on the coolant change as it was time and asked them to check my battery as I had experienced a problem with it earlier in the year. I was shuttled back to work and it wasn’t long before I got a call that it needed a new battery. Sigh… when I finally picked it up it was $726! And I knew the bill for my furnace was going to be waiting in the mail for me. Nice that they are so friendly there. Steve left a memo on my file that I can bring it back for a full buff of the finish as well because I am not happy with the extra finish I paid for. It has never looked clean no matter what. I shall wait until the streets are finished being swept.
I left there and went to the car wash so I could relax for a few minutes and scream if I needed to. It is my happy place, just wish the experience was longer. (That’s what she said)
As I was heading to the car wash I noticed the low tire light was on so I went back to the dealership around 4 and decided to call it a day at the office. This has been a very draining week. 21 days to go in April and much to accomplish means I will be back at least once this weekend. I checked my mail when I got home bu there was no invoice for the furnace. There was a very funny, early birthday card from Mark and Mary Lyn. My first thought was that it looked like me and that is what they said inside. Too funny. It is fascinating that a birthday card from Salt Spring Island got here before an invoice in Cranbrook.
Tonight along with my Butter Chicken pizza, I had a lovely Gin & Tonic in a toast to Prince Philip. In 1971, he and his wife attended our 101st May Day celebration in New Westminster. It was a very exciting day for this young flower girl in Queens Park.
Apparently I missed that somewhere along the way they came up with a drug to take if you have HIV and if you take it you will be able to have sex and not transmit it. As a teen of the 70s, the threat of AIDS in my life was far scarier than that of getting pregnant. I just find such gratitude for knowing those who suffer from it now have a chance at a full life. Now if only the same could happen for Cancers and MS and so many other terrible diseases.
Today was an enjoyable shit storm of a day, between meetings with auditors, clients and accountants I managed to file two personal tax returns and migrate three files from Sage to QuickBooks online as well as complete a file for year end. That may not sound like much but it was and it feels satisfying.
Woke up to snow coming down, it melted away between hail storms today. My system once again is letting me know what things not to eat or drink. My Moscow Mule was a definite no tonight. Boooo.
couldn’t help but wonder what the future actually holds when my travel deals have changed from Europe to Alberta!!!
I just saw a news story that made me so sad. The Pandemic is so bad in Brazil right now that they tie two surgical gloves full of warm water together at the fingertips and put a patients hand between them to simulate human touch as they lay in their hospital beds because the staff are so overwhelmed. BC broke all records, averaging over 1000 new cases a day this past week. I am trying not to be anxious and still taking precautions. We have a long way to go yet.
I started using the remedies the Naturopath sold me yesterday and my system is automatically over reacting to anything my guts are sensitive to. I am going to stick to it though. Otherwise, what’s the point. I am suffering a bit though and afraid to go lie down no matter how tired I am. I tried to watch my shows after dinner as I did more of the puzzle. I poured a glass of red wine and barely had any of it before the heart burn kicked in. I regret that choice. I suspect messing with my diet and meds during April may not have been the best choice but I am motivated to solve my health issues. I am as usual filling my days multitasking like a maniac.
This is the longest I have taken to do a puzzle, surprisingly hard
I coined a phrase today. I was concerned about how someone will respond to a choice I have made and as I was explaining it to a friend I said, “they already act like a dick to me, can they get more dicky?” So now I may use that on the regular to get a message across: don’t be more dicky.
This is the nose I found on the carpet this morning, a part of Emmy’s new magnet game. It makes me smile.
Over the last 24 hours I have been approached from three different angles by 5 different people with 7 different companies to do their books. I feel rather committed to the first one and capable of fitting in all but 3. I know I could do them all but I would lose my work/life balance. I managed to make them all happy by suggesting another bookkeeper for the person with three companies and offering to set up books, consult and train. I am overwhelmed by the opportunities but hesitant and need to remember it is ok to say no. I also as asked by a client to help them find a new accountant which is nerve wracking as I do not want to hurt my working relationship with the current one. I also am not good at recommending anyone. I want them to trust my guidance and I rely on others living up to what they promise.
I did take two hours midday to go to the Naturopath, Dr Lisa, that was recommended. She ran a bunch of food tests and sold me some treatments to try to get off the meds and cure the inflammation issue. She wants to ensure it is not my gall bladder releasing bile and causing the problem. I will do what she asks to see if we can narrow it down.
I also look forward to a boost of energy. Exciting things are happening for Fisher Peak Performing Artist Society. The fundraising campaign is going very well. At this time it is very much on my peripheral attention list though. I will do as needed but at best right now I can like and share posts and be grateful for the support we are getting. Got my notice of the AGM for Vancouver Island Music Fest today and it just made me a little sad as we look forward to seeing each other again in 2022.
Ignoring the crooked ones above the door has become a habit as the latch doesn’t catch immediately and the retrying moves them. I am too short to easily fix them. Other than that my view has improved immensely with my daughter’s pictures for sale on the distant wall.
The rest of the staff at my end of the building was off today so it was on one hand a little lonely and on the other i got so many different things done. I dealt with email and texts, completed two payroll, filed tax returns, trained a client on invoicing and got a call from a potential new client. I also wrote out my April birthday cards and mailed the most of them out. CBC had an interview with Mandy Patinkin and they talked about his recent album. I found it on Amazon and ordered it to be delivered to my Stepmother, Donna for her birthday on the 15th, as she is a huge fan.
On the way home I stopped at my friend Brenda’s and picked up some raspberry canes which I planted when I got home. It was such a beautiful day and t-shirt temperature. I tidied around the years before coming in for dinner. I am so tired though and it isn’t even 9 pm so I figured I had better get this done before I go to bed. I don’t know why I fight sleep so much. I am glad I got up and sent Jake on his way this morning though.
It was lovely to hear a young voice when I awoke. Emmy was dressed and ready to get on with the day at a reasonable time. We played with her new playdough Scentos and I was impressed that she thought to put three colours together to create rainbow items.
After a nice egg and hash brown brunch we all went outside so she could try her new bow and arrow set from her Dad. It was a little windy and cold but she had fun.
I didn’t get a picture but it came with a super cute quiver and all. She laughed as she tried to shoot my Jack hanging in the tree. After that we played her version of hopscotch, or follow the leader from paver to paver until she fell hard on the small rocks on one, digging into her knee. Then it was relax with an ice pack for a while.
Hot chocolate and Alvin & the Chipmunks helped immeasurably
Jake took her to see her cousins again and I tidied up and discovered she had made an impression on my new countertop. I can’t even get mad as I am pretty sure that is something I would have thought fun to do as a kid.
Once Jake returned we completed watching the first season of The Mist, only to discover it was the only season, lol. We enjoyed Tacos for two and good chats. It is nice to just spend time together. I had to let go of the stress of wondering if we were doing the right thing, having him here. It was essential in so many ways, changing his tires, seeing his young daughter, catching up with me, etc. I know that I have been pretty strict on towing the line and I am going to keep trying to do so but after over a year it was essential for me to just do family. I will be sad to see him leave tomorrow but we both need to get back to work.
All in all it has been a Happy Easter, but a different one than I used to seek. There was a time when I was a very strict born again Christian, very involved in church. I can’t say that I don’t believe all that anymore but I feel my beliefs have evolved, matured, come to a place I feel comfortable in. I am no longer.. less than, no longer feeling judged. I do believe in God, I do not believe in the fear based religiosity I was once subjected to. It is however, still odd to say Happy Easter in a chocolate bunny loving kind of way. I do want to say He is Risen, it still comes natural and I am good with that too. I love my friends and family no matter their beliefs (except the racist hate stuff) and trust they feel the same and so it is a Happy Easter.
I put my laundry on the line yesterday for the first time this year and it was glorious to slide into fresh sheets, wind dried. I guess I needed sleep as I don’t even remember waking up in the night and I woke up 11 hours 35 minutes later!
Jake went off to get his tired changed and spend time with Emmy. Sean and Aiden responded to my call to “Rent a husband”. It was a glorious day out and we took all the crap out of my yard, wood and recycle to the transfer station, picked up my tub surround at Home Depot before they sold out and then picked up 21 12 foot lengths of Hardi Plank that I purchased from a contractor friend. It is enough for me to side my nasty shed and I got a good deal. I raked the lawn and so enjoyed being outside in short sleeves.
After that was all done I showered and headed to Safeway to pick up birthday cupcakes for Emmy’s 4th birthday that we were combining with the usual Easter treasure hunt that we had skipped last year. I am grateful we are able to have outside gatherings. It was good for my soul to spend time with all my kids and grandkids at one time. Thank to Bill and Deanne and their big yard we were able to grab a a map and a bag of goodies with one person’s name to hide their stuff that we all contributed. I hid Rae’s and Emmy’s. Once we were all done, we got our own maps and bags and the hunt was on. It is always so much fun and everyone gets very creative.
Next was all the fun for Emmy… she really is a doll and all her cousins enjoy her company in their bubble.
The kids made decorated eggs which were super cute. It was also amazing that Judy, Roger’s Mom, got to have a pass from Joseph Creek to spend time with us. She hasn’t been out in over a year. It was lovely to see her even if she got the same Easter present 4 times because her memory is shot. She remembered all of us and that is good.
I was so grateful to spend time with them all but was also overwhelmed by all that energy and came home to relax before Jake and Emmy came back. At one point Emmy and I went and put our Jammies on and had such a laugh when we realized we had the same bottoms. She even felt mine to see that they were soft and fluffy like hers.
I am glad I got my tank filled this weekend as I will set myself aside for the week just to be sure as Jake did come from the hot zone. It will likely be a while before he gets back up here again.
So, once again I am blessed by friends (Campbells) and family (even got puzzles and other awesome things in the hunt) and even got a call from a member of the show crew to sort out the issues from earlier this week. All is right during this Holy Season. He is Risen.
Up and at the weekend chores. Very unimpressed with my ‘Stainless’ set-up. Definitely rusts..
I bought enough hardi plank to side my shed from Brian Astaforoff. Will go get it tomorrow with Sean’s help. Will be interested to get it home in 12 foot lengthens in a short box truck. Just as I was going to leave to meet Ashlée to hang her pictures at the GroundFloor, Jake arrived. We went and spent the afternoon there. Ash showed up with Lukas and we all did our own thing. Ash and I hung the photos for sale, Jake worked and Lukas made awesome fighting men out of binder clips. We had fun narrowing it down to my oversized wall calculator to use as a spacing template.
After that Jake and I came home and I made us Air Fryer chicken over Asian salad. We ate and played crib and watched The Mist. I made caramel brownies and we had it with Lactose free Ice-cream. Such a nice day
Up and at it, fumbled through getting ready without a bathroom vanity and suddenly the furnace guys were here. I dealt primarily with Ryan who was very kind and explained everything they were going to do when I left. I told him they could remove anything they need to out of the bathroom to make it work. Just before I left I decided to move the litter box and cat food into my room where Missy was hiding. As I was leaving the bathroom carrying it, Ryan asked if he should move his tool bag. I nonchalantly said no and as I stepped over caught my heel and fell full force on my knees and elbows, jamming my left pinky finger. I did not however spill the cat litter. I consider that a win. As the day went on I felt more and more sore and had to take a couple Advil. That helped. I am glad I didn’t scuff my shoes as I was celebrating the first day of April, my birthday month, in style, wearing my Dr. Henry Fluevogs
I had to pop into the Dr to see the duty Doc and get my stitches out. I unfortunately forget her name but she was sweet and said it all looked good. It was then get to the office and get things done. I seemed to be completely and regularly distracted. I did manage to get a shite ton of work done in spite of that. I also received a message that there was a report in my health portal. Made me laugh to see my respiratory report describe my results as ‘Grossly Normal” All good.
I received a message from a Theatre friend who had forgotten some things in the booth so agreed to meet him there. It worked well as I needed to go get some lunch after putting out some cords for the show that is postponed crew. unfortunately there were some things that made the Tech Director hat I wear uncomfortable and I had to decide how to deal . I waited until after work and must say I am tired of enforcing rules that no one seems to know about despite reassurances of the contrary. Everyone on the planet has their own agenda, I get it. Those are not always selfish but they also can be communicated in a way that leaves someone less than. I try not to do that but I do and sometimes it happens to me. I will let it go eventually. The soup I picked up at Max’s was delicious and satisfying.
Toward the end of the day I got a call from Jackson’s heating letting me know the guys were done but would be back with the custom cover plate on Monday. I stopped at the liquor store and headed home. I was absolutely shocked into a verklempt state when I got home and found that I had a beautiful furnace that is so quiet I am surprised when I see the money tree moving above the vent. more stunning and causing instantaneous outbursts of gratitude was the fact they reinstalled my vanity!!! Turns out the wall didn’t need to be moved and he needed to hook up a drain line. Must have decide to do me a solid at the same time. I would have had a nightmare putting it back around the new plumbing!! Seriously, I can’t even explain fully all the joy that brought. It was heavy and hard for me to take out on my own last night. To come home to a fully functioning bathroom is marvelous! I will be sending along a thank you note.
I poured a glass of Carménère from the last half of the last bottle from Campbell’s collection, called my Mom and had a good check in before settling down to dinner and a show. The Van Gogh puzzle is challenging and I just keep plucking away at it.
Completely forgot to mention that I got an email from Shoppers and was able to register for vaccine. I will get a text to book appointment. That feels soon!
Today was truly beautiful. The sun shone, the wind was calm, lovely moments occurred . It lived up to the saying that March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb. It was very pleasant at the office and I really enjoyed short visits with people as they called, texted and emailed for assistance or stopped in for cheques and mail. I always prefer to have the eye contact and presence of people I care about. At one point I had to call CRA about a demand letter and reached a very charming lady in Newfoundland. We had a great chat and she gave the necessary extension so I could get the client caught up and filed. I have always felt that that one should not run away from these things. All you have to do is be honest and ask for assistance. Ignoring the problem never makes it go away.
It seems it was bring a kid to work day… my Ashlée’s photos were all there just waiting to be hung, Sean showed up with Zoë and Layla dragged in Connor. It was a thrill to see him walk by and I have enjoyed chatting hockey with him. His mom says she is shocked he talks to me at all! Kids and pets like me, sometimes I even like them 😉
I got a call this afternoon that they would like to come install my furnace tomorrow so I had to come home and uninstall my bathroom vanity. Because I don’t want to have it stick into the hall I will have to take a little more room out of the bathroom. As I am doing a full renovation of the bathroom to rip out the shower and fix the floor back to flat this is the beginning. Rae said they can use it at their house and I will be looking for the perfect smaller one.
Before coming home I had to stop and stock up at the grocery store. I noted a couple sales tags with very confusing price messages. This one shows 3 prices and it was the middle one that is the actual. I mentioned it to a supervisor and all she did was have them pull the tags. I should have gotten the lowest advertised price but I didn’t want to argue. No one could explain the price though.
There was a new (to me) product that I will just leave here. I did not purchase it….
Not only March went out like a lamb. Today should have been my cousin Kelly’s 59th birthday. My sister died when I was only three months old and the closest related person to me for most of my life who filled that position was Kelly. In August of 2017 she was slain like a lamb on the alter of addiction by her husband. I along with her remaining 4 siblings raised a glass in her honour today. Her picture hangs in my family frame in my office and I think of her often and miss her deeply. I loved you Kelly and I am grateful to have had you in my life and that your siblings are mine, cousins united in love and grief.
triumphgal 