One of the best things that came out of the pandemic was the ability to book Dr phone call appointments. I had a lovely chat with Dr Jordan ‘Cub’ Wolff today about increasing meds and after this, if no noticeable improvement, tapering off. For what I pay monthly, I can likely get a personal trainer or at the least re up my Boom account and get back on the treadmill regularly. He also gave me a referral to the Dr in Invermere for a shot into my scar tissue. I will try calling them tomorrow.
He seemed a bit motivated to get things done today and so I did at home as I also enjoy the last of season five of only murders in the building and began watching an interesting Marvel series newly out, Wonderman.
I was at Fenwick and Baker by 4 o’clock or soand was happy to sit beside Tami who owns the Sammy and Jo and her dad, Paul. I ended up having a great evening. The buffet was delicious. The company was fun and I won a couple of door prizes. Well, actually, I only took home one of them because the other was a Calgary Flames T-shirt, which I did not want lol Robbie, who was giving out the prizes even said Marnee you don’t want this, do you?
I ended up messaging Rae to see if someone could come and give me a ride. I was thrilled to have Roger and Gene come so that Gene drove me in my car home and then had a ride home with Roger. I had a laugh with Roger as I said not bad in 9 1/2 years here you’ve only had to come rescue me four times. I am grateful for when they do. Smart choices all around.
The main reason that I needed a ride was not because of the drinking over the course of the night rather the round of shots that I bought at the end. We were being ribbed about the boys doing shots at the other end of the table so I turned to Jo and said, hey is there a shot that you like? She said Jaeger. And that gave me a little emotional moment as that was Jackie’s favourite drink so I bought us and Dean at our end of the table a round. We toasted to Jackie.
Mary Ann picked me up around 2 and we spent a couple hours sorting the club storage unit. We did a great job and did a brief inventory, but mostly sorted into categories and sections in the space. We set aside all the stuff we will be using for the gala and we’re thrilled to find material we can use for chair bows as it was very expensive when we priced it out.
After that I picked up the machines for 50/50 from Lallah and headed to the arena as I was banker tonight. I had fun and did sell the winning ticket again. The man was very kind and thankful. It’s nice to make people happy doing a good thing. I also figured out how to turn off the screensavers on the tvs that show the total of winnings as the go blank in the second period.
It does amaze me how often people just live with annoying inconveniences rather than find the solution
At the game a gentleman came up and asked when I was going to get involved in music in the park again as it was really gone downhill and that he and his wife would love to see me back. It was a lovely moment and breaks me a bit after putting so much into it.
Today was weirdly, complicated but almost in a really nice way. I woke up knowing for well. It was one year since my dear Jackie died. But I didn’t have a deep sorrow. I honestly felt joy for knowing her and suddenly realized what I want my trip tattoo to be. I’m going to find something that has her initials in her own handwriting and designed the root of the trip as a constellation with her initials and 2025 in the center. There is a perfect spot for it on my left arm, which is not traditionally my travel arm, but my grounding and tribute arm. It will be perfect.
I mostly worked on one file today which I always find satisfying. After work, I stopped and had a beverage and food with my Bar fly friends and was invited to join Mark and Johanna at their table on Sunday for the Super Bowl party, which takes away a lot of the anxiety of going by myself. I do enjoy their company very much so I’m looking forward to that.
I came home and baked an appetizer to take with me to Poker night out at Tim and Shawna‘s house. It was a nice group of 10 and I made it to second place so came home with $110 which was 70 more than I went there with so that was a bonus. When I got home, just after midnight, I walked over and got my mail for the week to find a cheque for $50 from BC lottery corporation. I had mailed them a scratch, and when that wouldn’t scan properly and it honestly didn’t take very long to get the money.
One of the things I’m very grateful for is that right away this morning I reached out to Reid, Jackie’s son. At the end of the evening, he messaged me that I was the only one who had reached out today, and that it meant a good deal to him. I am sad for him, though, as he has a great deal of extended family in Alberta and he is alone at the coast. She also had some good women friends in the day. I now know that I will continue to reach out and connect with him no matter what.
rotary was fun with a presentation by JCI outgoing Prez Sven and current Prez Dan
It was also Rebecca’s birthday celebration as it is next Thursday when we are having a special event and she would miss being sung to.
Her sister Nikki has the office next to mine. Nikki’s so , Keaton was with her today as he has a cold. He and I had a great talk about trains, and Lego… and Lego trains
I went to Trivia but Brett wasn’t able to make it so I noticed that John wasn’t with his team and I asked to join them. Teresa, Nerissa, Johnna and I came in last. That was a first for me! I found it challenging as one of them says things very absolutely and I don’t want to argue. Ah well it was fun
I started my new book when I got there early and admit to being quite horrified that my 20 something server didn’t know who Bob Dylan is
I stopped at F&B to chat with Chris and try to reduce my anxiety about showing up at the sold out Superbowl event on Sunday. He encouraged me to come around three if I want a seat at the bar.
So far February is going well. I bought a product that helped me sleep better last night and I worked at a clients all day, accomplishing much
We got the very sad news yesterday that Joanna Popoff, wife of city councillor and fellow Rotarian, Ron, had died of a heart attack in Mexico. We are all shocked and I am grateful to have begun to get to know her better socially and am so sad for her family.
I don’t know why I only got 3-4 hours of sleep with most of the night spent tossing around. It was such a poor sleep that my ribs hurt today. I did get up and off to the mall for my nail appointment with Minh at 9. He did a fun job as usual and I headed off to the office
My back ordered Lego arrived and I hid it with my decor to do next Christmas
A lot was accomplished today and I rewarded myself by cooking up panko crusted cod and poutine. Mmmmmm
The evening was spent watching my recording of last nights Grammy awards. Trevor Noah did a good job hosting and the tributes to those who passed were incredible. So many great performances and wow, Bad Bunny!
Post Malone’s tribute to Ozzy was brilliant and it was touching to see the family there.
I was amused that Post Malone, Teddy Swims and Jelly Roll look like bros I like their music
I was up at a decent time after a good nights sleep. The morning was spent finishing the Big C and then watching an interesting documentary, Will & Harper about friendship and transition.
I got dressed and headed to the mall for a few things including a meat tenderizer and distilled water. I ended up also finding a birthday gift for Sawyer, a cute dress and top on sale, and a wicker Easter egg that I was able to turn into a shade for my porch lamp.
While at Winners I saw a shelf that reminded me of the day I met my Texas Posse as we visited both places on the Amalfi coast
It was a remarkable warm day hovering around 10 which is very uncommon for this time of year
Once home I made 6 Parmesan Panko chicken breasts and bocconcini salad. Dinner was good and the portion was so large I will have the other half for lunch tomorrow. The breast are packaged individually and going in the freezer.
I did enjoy cooking from scratch again.
I have spent the evening doing laundry and watching the documentary, The Christine Jessop Story. So tragic this Canadian unsolved mystery
I had a brutal night of acid reflux. I had to stay up late until I could lie down. I woke up and had to prop up on pillows to get back to sleep and once up for the day had a sore throat and phlegm chest. No more Taco Time for me
I met Mary Ann at Sandor Rentals at 1:30 to look at decor for the Gala. We had such a good time and then went to Fabricland to see if there was anything we could do ourselves but decided it would be cost prohibiting.
We picked up a chair that we bought and dropped it at my house as I am going to figure out a way to recover it to suit the theme.
I then went and spent over two hours at Superstore getting a good supply of groceries for the first time since before my trip. I enjoyed it.
I even ran into Tyrel who we hope to hire as auctioneer for the gala. He has promised to confirm soon
I stopped at Great Canadian Liquor Warehouse to use the gift card that I won and find these new Crowns very tasty
I came home and made some dinner and have been watching The Big C
It was nice to leave the office at 3 on a Friday and go help Monica bottle her wine. We went back to her place and had a visit for a few hours before I came home and started watching season 3 of Slow Horses
Today involved work and planning. I met Mary Ann and Nadine at Colombo Lodge to Susa out a floor plan for the Gala. We had a great meeting. Things are getting real.
I sure wish I could shake whatever is causing the phlegm and hitch in my chest.
I tried booking an appointment for the perineural injection with the recommended Dr in Invermere only to find it will be months. Sigh
Got a call from Uncle Brian and Auntie Lynne about mom and made a plan for me to come visit
A woman I volunteer with stopped by the office to give me two Hyacinths as a thank you for referring her to a financial planner. So sweet
After work I went to Encore for my last event as a Friend With Benefits. I arrived to find that I had been allowed a plus one. Tracey and Sven were both busy so Rae suggested Blaire. She arrived in time for dinner. We were seated with John and Teresa, and Ben. The meal was an amazing and the company was fun. It turns out Ben is a train engineer and we swapped some great railroad stories. I really enjoyed Blair’s company as well
I picked up Mom at 12:30 to bring her to her Dr appointment. She was moving quite spiritedly compared to the weekend. Clearly has taken her water pills as the swelling is lessened. We picked up Rae so I could drop them at the back alley ramp and go around front to park. It seems her biopsy from her leg was cancerous so I am to watch it for changes after it heals. I dropped both of them off and headed back to the office where I got a good lot done and then came home.
I finished watching season 1 of Slow Horses. This is odd and sometimes I have no idea what’s going on, but I am weirdly obsessed with it.
I was wakened from a deep sleep by a double beep every 30 seconds. It was the carbon monoxide detector indicating end of life. I removed it from the wall and followed the directions on the back to turn it off for recycling, but it didn’t work. I was so annoyed that I marched outside and threw it in my garbage. It was still beeping at days end when I rolled the bin out to the road for collection in the morning
I do love my new Bumblebee earbuds from Jake. They have great sound.
I finally gave up on my book and put it in the thrift box. I didn’t care that I only had 95 pages to go, it’s so poorly written
Uncle Lawrence called and we had one of our best conversations ever. He was shocked how poorly his sister is getting around and promised to help more in getting her up and moving. It was emotional for me and cathartic to express how tired I am of being angry at the situation
I was at the are arena for 2:30 to finish training as banker and sell 50/50 It was a very exciting game. We are a 4th from the bottom in the league team and we beat the Blackfald Bulldogs who are 3rd overall 4-2!
I also won a $100 GC to Liquor Warehouse when my program # was chosen.
I stopped to see Mom and offer her a pair of my shoes as her runners are hard to get on and her feet hurt yesterday. She said they didn’t fit so I headed off and stopped at the kids. Everyone was there having tacos that were delicious!!! I’m only sad that I missed Dee’s homemade tortillas. The meat Roger made was so tasty and had nothing that has upset my stomach.
I remembered to bring my present from Jake home. Jack, who Jake gave me years ago, is happy to finally have his Sally
I picked up Mom and we headed to Kimberley to attend the celebration of life for her cousin Jeanne. It was emotional and beautiful and so full of love.
Mark, Chris, Adrian and Brian did a lovely eulogy and the last song was a request by Barry, Sweet Caroline, their song.
It was good to see all the family and friends there. I wish I could have stayed and visited but I needed to get Mom home as she could barely walk. I was glad Roger and Gene and Jake helped her out to the car.
It was so nice to get to chat a ltttle with Dale and Janet Lofstrom, Moms cousin and wife from Grande Prairie.
Yumi had a Kootenay experience with deer
We stopped and I got Mom some groceries and then got her settled back at home. Jake and I went out to F&B and talked about what it takes to start a business. We then joined Yumi and Emmy at the mall where they’d gone to a movie. After shopping for a bit it was back to the house where Roger had made spaghetti for all. We had a nice visit and played Rummicube which I won lol.
I am blessed with family that’s for sure. Also. Tired.
Today I did manage to get a lot done, but I also took a mental health break and built my happy plants that the Watson Family gave me for Christmas. They are adorable.
I headed straight from work to the arena to be trained as a 50/50 banker for Rotary. I was also a seller with Laura. Lallah did a great job walking me through it all.
Near where my selling spot was there is a wall of hometown hockey and I was thrilled to see that Jason Marshall had been added to the line-up. I house sat for his Mom when they went to the draft. He was picked 9th overall by the St Louis Blues who also happened to be the team who played the Canucks at the first NHL game I ever went to. It brought me joy that he ended up playing with my Ducks.
Tonight’s intermissions had weiner dog races that were hilarious. It was a salute to Leslie Long Rescue who does amazing things for animals in this city. It was announced that Rotary was giving $750 of their share of the 50/50.
I went to witness the way to draw the winning number and gasped to Lallah that I sold that ticket and knew who won. It just happened that I had noted the numbers when I sold. Sure enough, the winner was D, an 80 year old volunteer for Leslie Long Rescue!! She took home over $2700. It was very moving to say the least. We got a picture of her and of presenting a cheque to the organization
I stopped to say hi to Jake and Yumi who had driven with Ashlée after flying Vancouver to Calgary. We will all get together for Jeanne’s celebration of life tomorrow and then spend some time together.
Today was super annoying as apparently Microsoft 365 had issues globally.
Jason Fast, a partner at the firm I used to work for gave his bio at Rotary and it was entertaining
I went from work to trivia and played with Jeff & Dee, Nolan & his friend whose name I forget, Blaire, and Roger as Magic Short Bus. We won by one point. I was happy to have supplied a couple answers that the rest didn’t know. We were a good balance of knowledge and it was fun and I made $31 after entry fee.
triumphgal 