It was a 13.5 hour day but so satisfying. I was able to be the ‘see a need fill it’ person and was emcee for the community stage. Over all, the event was a huge success. I feel that the audience and performers had an amazing time and I hope we will di it all again next year. I will let the pics and videos speak to the day. One of the lovely moments was when a gentleman stopped me to say he had wanted to let me know all summer how much he enjoys me as emcee. That was sweet.
Ed the elephant was a huge fan favourite. Marcel did an amazing job making him. And my grandson Gene played trombone in the parade!
These were the acts at the Community Stage: Highland Dancers, Tunesmiths, Alfonso Joseph, Slone Leman, Strange 2ruth
random fun
Garret T, Willie is absolutely and old soul with a gift. Could have listened to him all night!
And then it was time to close out the night with Five Alarm Funk!!
In the usual yo-yo kind of world that I live in, today had many ups and downs.
Up: got all my volunteer book work done
Down: had many draws on my attention
Up: bought tickets to the Sharks vs Ducks game on January 31st in Anaheim for Roger, Gene and Lukas to join me as Christmas presents. Got really good ones in the first row of the upper section, centre ice. It will be the boys first NHL game.
Up: My ABC friends from Santa Barbara, Craig and Lorraine, are going to join me in Disney for two nights and two full days!! I can’t wait to see them and introduce them to All my family. They won’t be around when I am heading south next month so I will figure out a new route. What a joy to know I will see them soon.
Down: one of my client’s accountants asked me for a long list of info very late in the day for a Friday.
Up: One of the client’s employees helped me get it done in short order.
Down: I was tasked to put together the rider bits for the two headliner bands tomorrow
Up: I was tasked to put together the rider bits for the two headliner bands tomorrow!!
Up: I had so much fun shopping, filling the list of Keto friendly, interesting foods and beverages. Google and label reading was my Jam, The hardest thing to find was a 26er of Silver Patreon. At the last spot in town I finally found it.
Up: The dinner I made was delicious.
Down: Today was the 1st anniversary of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
Up: I enjoyed watching Glow and puzzling
UP! I needed tissues and like a particular size of box. There was only one left of that size peeking from the top shelf. It was soooo meant to be mine
Then I took on the task of Hospitality Riders for Ed Fest. And then I came home and ate perogies and puzzled and watched 1997 Fools Rush In with Matthew Perry and Selma Hayek and it was not horrible.
My garden thriving in spite of water and my computer made me smile today
Sometimes, well actually, most times… the only thing I need to do to stop the ruminating is to phone a friend.
Today, there was a google meeting for 2.5 hours to assist a client, work on getting remittances calculated for others, a call with the lender to discuss mortgage and accept docusign info to sign things off with them before I do it in person with the lawyer, and then a final meeting pre Ed Fest which happens on Saturday.
Afterwards I came home and made a good meal, and puzzled while I ruminated on the last item. I have been at all but one planning meeting and have added to the event in a positive way, of this I am secure. Unfortunately, I was left out by my own organization in the end. It is not the fault of all of them, just a few who do not value my part. This sat heavily with me this eventing and I finally decided to text a friend who is involved at the top and when he was able, we talked on the phone. He had observed what I was feeling and knew exactly how to use my skills. He had concerns that the bands may need someone to be their person and was glad to assign me to assist him and be that person. I also clarified how he would like the fence set up and I will be there early to ensure it happens.
I was left feeling valued and needed. I am once again looking forward to the event.
That’s what friends are for.
It was four years ago today that my besties in the UK and I attended Come From Away, in London, and I can’t imagine any piece of theatre that could move me more. I also can’t believe it was 4 years ago already!! I love and miss them dearly.
I heard from the lender that I was approved, tomorrow will be the initial call to go through all the details and docusign and then there will be the lawyer appointment to complete my mortgage. This makes me happy but I also am experiencing extreme anxiety. I don’t know why, can’t put a finger on it to work through it and make it go away…
And so I resort to my go to… I drink the anxiety away, or at least to a point of dropping into a deep sleep. There are two things very wrong with this though… I wake 5 hours later, dehydrated and stressing…. I gain weight. I have gained 10 pounds back, still down 35, which is great but I need to stop the gain.
I have also been having really weird dreams. I hope it is to do with the mortgage, not that I am picking up on something nefarious coming down the line.
Such is the life of the empath, I don’t know always if the feeling is mine or someone else’s. I do know there is someone in the building I work in that is having issues with their health and I have been trying to protect both of us from feeling what’s going on.
I had barely wiped the sleep out of my eyes when I saw that someone couldn’t make their shift at Arby’s today that was to start in 15 minutes. I messaged Rae and she said to come as soon as I could. I worked from 11:30 to 2:30 and actually found myself annoyed too often at the lack of authority and awareness in the shift. It all was fine but I wished it to have been better. It is a tough time of transition as the new owners take over the end of next month. The new owner is not as on top of things as Rae is and I have to allow for that, not be judgemental, but it is hard as my daughters rock the job and I have height expectations.
Once I got home, I booked the flights for Emmy and I and Universal tickets for Jake, Yumi and I. It is good to open all the options and apps to find the best. I now feel that Emmy and I are going no matter what, lol.
Hopefully Danika works on getting Emmy’s passport asap.
A big group of us met at Encore to have food and drinks to celebrate school starting tomorrow.
I am going to buy Ducks vs Sharks tickets on January 31st for Roger, Lukas and Gene as Christmas presents. I am excited to take the grandsons to their first NHL game in my team’s home ice. I will have to pack jerseys for all.
I misunderstood when everyone was coming home but with Emmy under my care to get home, I would not be able to stay as long as them anyway.
I can’t believe it has already been 4 years since I left for the UK. How can it be that long since I saw my besties!!
And challenging to coordinate! 13 of us are going to Disney and Universal Hollywood in the new year. I am going to have to travel with Emmy to meet her Dad and his girlfriend there. That is not bad necessarily but it does complicate things when it comes to bookings. I spent a great deal of time online today, comparing hotels and flights and finally booked rooms for Jake, Yumi, Emmy and I near Universal for the first two nights and at the same hotel as everyone else for the next 5 nights.
EVERYTHING is expensive and I am going to have to make sure Jake pays a good portion of the hotel and covers all Emmy expenses. I can’t afford to subsidize this in any way, especially after my roadtrip next month.
It will be the one big family vacation though, so worth it in the end.
I got chores done and then met Jake, Emmy, Will and Sawyer at the theatre at noon to see Elemental. We were completely enjoying the movie when the Fire Alarm went off. At first most of us thought it was part of the movie and then realized the lights were flashing. We all waited outside for half an hour before they found out someone had triggered the alarm near the Dollar Store in the mall and we were allowed back in. Because it was the only showing of the day, they started it near where we left off and we were able to see it to the end. It was a lovely movie. We stopped to see Mom after. Sawyer gives the best hugs.
next, Jake and I took Emmy, Lukas, Will and Sawyer to Jim Smith lake where they have done a lot of work including putting in a new playground. The kids had a lot of fun and Jake and I got a good visit in.
Dinner was at the Guedes house with the three new home stay students who arrived today. Demetri and Mario are Rae and Roger’s new ones and there was also a lovely girl from next door. We had delicious food and a good visit before working on plans for all the original family to go to Disney and Universal January 27 to February 6th. I am to fly down with Emmy and meet Jake and Yumi there. We are a great number of people hoping to stay close to the park. It is complicated but we we will make memories.
Mom is going to give me her air miles to help towards Emmy’s flight thankfully.
My day at the office was greatly improved when I got a text from Jake that he was here and agreed to do early lunch. He picked me up at the office and after a fun photo session, we agreed that Hot Shots was the place. The Pad Thai Bowls we had were amazing… and Jake paid!
His license plate kills me. I did suggest it say, Just Kill Me on the frame. I pitched him Nerd Nana as an unboxing for the ‘older” set. I could tell he was not amused, but I think the idea has merit and it will rattle around on his drove home.
I popped out to do some errands and stopped at both the car dealership and a client to take care of business.
Once I got back to the office I was becoming stressed as I still hadn’t received a batch of time sheets. By the time they finally sent them, I was getting annoyed as it was late on Friday of a long weekend. After all it turned out alright as I connected with Sonia, my roadtrip companion next month. It was Saturday morning in Perth and we chatted about our plans and where to stay, when.
I stopped at the liquor store for martini makings and then SavOn to get olives (which turned out to have pits but were delicious) and also picked up bacon wrapped scallops for dinner. Once I got home and cooked I went for a walk around our big block with Tracey. Once I got home I enjoyed my food and martinis and after puzzling for a bit while I watched Big Brother and AGT, I decided to watch Stand By Me. It has been a while and honestly, it is still amazing.
You know, the one that just rolls along and then you realize it’s done. Your lists were checked off, you took the calls, replied to the email, and just got it done. You even stopped to eat… 3 times!
I just had one of those.. I wonder if it was the rain. I was able to just focus in a relaxed manner and meet my obligations and then some. Now, after a nice dinner, I am enjoying a glass of wine and AGT.
It is my first best friend’s birthday today. She has caught up and joined the 60 club. The first connections are pure. I believe that when we are children we choose friends that are soul mate friends. Life may send us in different directions but there is still a love that is there.. forever. We were close for so many years and then our own insecurities and peers in high school got in the middle. I can now admit that I was sad not to have been in her wedding party but I also didn’t have her in any of mine, so… lol. Today I thought of her often and the memories we made as young girls in male worshipped families. I remember her clearly wanting to be a boy, and I have always described myself as my father’s oldest son. Good thing now, I think, that neither of us grew up in a world where we would have made that choice permanent. We are both strong, intelligent, high functioning women.. and it all began in a strange little suburb of a suburb of Vancouver. There is a large part of me that wishes we lived closer, but I have to wonder if I am actually very good at maintaining closeness. It is easier to pop in and catch up on my friends. Or, maybe that is self protection. Part of me stays aloof so I can’t be hurt.
For example.. I decided to join the FaceBook dating app and have had a couple interesting conversations. One has gone on a few days with a guy in Kelowna. We talked about things and seemed to be getting along. He requested switching to messenger…. (Yep, should have seen this coming) and I took a day to decide, sure, at least I would see his profile. The first thing I see is his likes of ‘Innocent babes’ sites and then he says he’d like to see more of me. Done, blocked, sigh. There is a reason I am so jaded. I shall have to wait to meet someone in person, a friend of a friend, someone vetted.
I did have a good meeting with the Ed Fest crew today and brought my screen to be used. Tracy came over with her ladder so I could check where my roof peeled back from the wind/pergola damage. Thankfully it did not leave access for rain, as we are to get a bunch tomorrow. I will have to fix it before snow and ice though.
I finally got all the documents requested to the broker and she has sent in the package. I hope to hear soon that I have an appointment at the notary to sign it off.
I loved the timing that I finished the first of the puzzles she gave me.. today!
Driving the jeep was a complete joy today in the perfect temperature with the wind in my face. It was almost like being on a boat again. I could practically smell the ocean in my imagination.
The pharmacist at Safeway is a lovely human being who goes above and beyond to help me get what I need for my Mom
My friend Deanne is a blessing as she will take Mom to her lab appointment tomorrow, which is necessary because Mom wouldn’t give up her card game this afternoon to let me take her when an appointment was open.
I have been chatting with a couple guys on the FaceBook dating app. None of them live here, two are 5-6 years older than I am. They are nice but I am practically moving backwards slow in the conversations. One I am already writing off as he is too attractive and too complimentary. He thinks I am too pretty to be single… why is that a red flag…
I made a good meal and was puzzling when Tracy asked me to go for a walk. It was nice to do so. I am still maintaining my weight mostly but slowly creeping up and then back down. I still would like to lose more to be completely comfortable and definitely need to get back on the treadmill in the mornings.
The mortgage still hasn’t completed and I am currently paying 9.85% on the old one… argh.
I need this to be over so I can even make plans for my vacation in October.
Still enjoying Only Murders in the Building. It is well done.
Checking out Ash’s pics in Koots Roots at the mall
Fresh pretty nails from Ty
A drive about town
Puzzling
Sitting in the yard reading my book
Admiring a pretty and talkative bird in the yard.
Made nummy tacos for dinner
Missy proudly brought me in a small bird (not the talkative one). She had it gently in her mouth and was mewing as she came through the cat door. She laid on the floor and looked at me with it held gently in her mouth. I calmly said, “no Missy” and she released it. I opened the front door and it flew away. In all these years she has never shown any signs of interest in birds, or any other critters for that matter. I always just thought her bell would be a deterrent. At least she didn’t try to eat it!!
Today I was pleased to wake and spend the morning, enjoying poached eggs on Texas Garlic Toast and coffee while I watched some brain soothing Star Wars items on Disney +. Zen – Grogu and Dust Bunnies was odd and peaceful. Biome was ridiculously soothing as it was a peaceful flyover of various Star Wars terrain. And I loved Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation.
I then got ready to head to the park for Summer Sounds in collaboration with Rotary Club of Cranbrook’s Chili Cook off. I was there just after 1 as I stopped at the office to prepare my info to emcee.
The first band of the day was Las Cha Chas. The guitar player, Ivan lives in Kimberley and his posse comes up from Sayulita, Mexico. They were absolutely amazing, filling the park with their Tropical Rock. The small audience was very appreciative. I truly wish more people had been there to enjoy them.
Next was Half Spent, a group of indie rockers from town. They were so tight, very enjoyable. There was a moment of annoyance when I heard a volunteer at one of our booths say that they were the worst band we have ever had. I went off to the loo and then sat down with her to calmly explain that she is the face and voice of our organization while she is volunteering for us. I explained that the hoped for response to “How is the music?” Is that people seem to be really enjoying them. They are not my taste but people are happy. She was very receptive and we left on good terms. I did let her know that they were, in fact, a very good band.
The evening was closed out by Brass Monkey, a 7 piece band complete with keys and brass! Two of the members used to live on Salt Spring Island, I do adore Randy and Shinobu. One of the members is also one of our Board Members, Jamie has a wonderful voice and he really pours the energy out after having open heart surgery not that long ago.
Over the course of the day, from 4 pm on, the Rotary club was selling wristbands for $20 to allow people to taste the 9 different chilis. There were local celebrity judges for a prize of $500, and a people’s choice award for $300. It was very popular and they sold out of wristbands.
Dom & Lallah
It was a long day with my back and hips reminding me that I was walking on uneven ground. It was worth it to have the feedback from people, how much they loved it. I was also very flattered that Dom complimented me on the job I was doing as she works for a local radio station and emcees many events.
The crowd was appreciative, the music was great and the feedback was good. Our collaboration was a success, in spite of the confusing schedule and uncertainty of why we started the music so early when the crowd was sparse. It is something we will take up at the board level.
I have a bit of a sore throat but made sure to Covid test when I got home. It was negative thankfully.
I got news that my appraisal is done and sent to my broker today. Thankfully it came in even higher than the BC Assessment value. It is ridiculous that in the current market, my 1980, 1 bedroom and den mobile home on it’s own lot has come in over 260K. I can’t imagine how anyone can get in the market any more. I know I won’t be selling, that’s for sure. I will follow up on Monday to make sure it all goes through quickly though as I can’t imagine what my open mortgage is costing me at the moment. It is such a huge relief though, I am sure I will sleep much better tonight.
Got news that Jake is coming for a visit next weekend. I can’t wait to see him as I was not here in July when he last visited.
I drove the jeep today and the weather was absolutely perfect.
I FaceTimed with Edwina last night, catching up and reminiscing about Woody. We held our own wake. I fell into a heavy sleep and woke up wide awake at 4:30. I tried to listen to comedy podcasts, but did not fall into a good sleep again and finally got up at 6:30
I had a bagel and cream cheese as well as a couple coffee before heading to the office. I did not feel well…
I put in a lot of time on the books, broken up by coming home to meet the appraiser, Barry. It was hard to read him, but he promised to have it emailed to me tomorrow. It is an uncomfortable feeling to have a stranger in your home, taking stock.
I worked until 7:30 and came home to just heat up a burrito, make some popcorn, puzzle a little and watch my shows. I am trying to stay up long enough to induce a good night’s sleep as I have to go to a client’s tomorrow and then emcee for the Chili cook off and music in the park on Saturday.
The problem with moving away from a tight community like Salt Spring Island, where I lived for 15 years, is that I don’t always get the news that I wish I knew, in a timely manner. Today I was stunned to see a post of a picture of the flag lowered over Mouat’s, the community central, with an accompanying message that it was in honour of Woody Scott. I was immediately overcome, fighting the urge to vomit, which is my deep feels reaction. Upon reaching out to a mutual friend, I learned that he had had a long and terrible battle with Cancer. I suspect people thought I knew that, and that it was less of a shock to many. There are many who had a far deeper relationship with him, the flag being lowered speaks to his place in the community. My reaction to the news speaks to the place he held in my heart and my history. Woody was a very good, loving and kind man. We played ball together and socialized during my time on the island. He was always ready with a big hug and even bigger smile. I have so many fond memories, but one of my favourites that I share on occasion was when we went to a ball tournament off island. Another of our players was nicknamed Nummy and when we all went to hit the hay at the end of the night it seemed neither of the guys had brought a tent. I was all set up, so of course, they crashed with me which led to the night I slept between Woody and Nummy, lucky girl. It is hard to speak to the hole someone leaves in your life, but it is always as big as the space they filled when they were in it. I loved you and will miss you, dear Woody. I am glad your battle is over.
I forgot to set my alarm so when I woke up I messaged Geraldine right away and then jumped in the shower so I could meet them at Denny’s. They had breakfast before I got there but I was so happy to get a several coffee visit before they had to go and I had to get to the office to run payroll. I was happy and sad that I was so in the moment that I forgot to take a picture with them!
Back at the office I got things done, including fine tuning my trip in October and making plans for the rest of the week.
William called me and asked if I was busy or could I take Sawyer and him to Encore around 3. I got my stuff done and went to pick them up. I took them to visit GG (my Mom) and once again forgot to take a picture of them with her although it was so cute to see Sawyer cuddling with her every chance he got. We dealt with her mail and her recycling and then I had to ask her to turn off the news as she was saying it was scary. I didn’t want the boys to pick up on the wildfire fear. I iterated that all our family and friends are safe and we have no reasons to fear anything.
Once we got to Encore they were thrilled to find that the arcade was free. Rae, and then Roger, and then Ashlée, Lukas, Bill and Deanne joined us and we talked about Disneyland in early 2024. I have to connect with Jake about us going and taking Emmy. I hope Yumi will join us, we just have to figure out timing and accommodation as well as what we may want to do that the whole group may not.
We have been here a lot….
I am feeling stress that I need to reach out and connect with many friends. I hope that has nothing to do with my or their place on the planet…
Today I worked hard and then spent a good deal of time fine tuning my trip with Sonia from Vegas to Helena in October. I found us interesting places to stay and sent her the links to decide. My friends were to arrive on their way home from a cancelled holiday due to WildFires and I was to meet them at Encore. They didn’t take into account the time change and ultimately were too tiered to set which was disappointing. I sat at Encore and decided to order a pizza and ask Rae to come meet me to bowl as it was Ladies night. There were so many people though that I felt bad taking a lane. We had a good visit and I finally headed home. I may be a little too buzzed for a Monday night….
triumphgal 