Hard to believe it’s only one week tonight that we land in Quito. I studied on the government site and feel they are common sense
Rotary lunch was a touching tribute to Bob, a presentation to Key City Theatre and a talk from our District Governor, Lorne Westnedge.
I sat with Lorne and his wife whom I remembered from the Coeur d’Alene conference. He is a very good speaker.
The Jeep started easily even after not starting it for a long time. I got to the office to a strong fuel smell. I noted that the fuel line was loose but didn’t have tools with me. I messaged Bill and he popped over and fixed it in no time.
I worked a little later to get ahead and then came home to make up a bed for Mark for tomorrow night. He and I then played two games of Outsmarted. He beat me over 11k to 450 in the first game. He won the second but it was much closer. It’s a shame I will be busy with Edfest and won’t get good time to hang out.
I had such a great day! I got lots done and then headed to the last EdFest committee meeting before the event on Friday. Like the people involved.. very much.
Next stop was Encore for a delicious quesadilla and a couple of Crown. A woman sat next to me at the bar and we made a great connection. Anita is a beautiful South Korean woman who has been living here for 19 years. I popped out to walk down to my hair appointment with Karissa and made a big change!
Upon my return to Encore, I was invited to sit with Anita and her friend Hiro. We got lost in many conversations about race, and how we all ended up here. I enjoyed their company so much and hope to see them again. It is amazing to me that a 33 year old from Japan, a 53 year old from South Korea and a 61 year old from Canada all found so much in common to chat about.
I got outside while I would be in shade working on getting all my bulbs back in the bed. I moved some into open spots along my opposite fence as well. I made a new edge with the glass blocks that I had bought from Addison. They look nice in the dark. In time, I will add more lights behind them.
It feels good to have gotten a lot more weeds dug out and I paid Jesse to bag up all the branches and cuttings as I was out of steam.
I took time to sit with Tracey and discuss what we need to bring on our trip… NEXT WEEK!!!
I have taken a break this evening to crochet and binge Highway Thru Hell. I confess to getting veklempt when I saw Jamie’s wreck of the LA Rotator.
There is a good reason that I always take big vacations in September. I went to the office after stopping to see Mom and got almost all remittances done for Payroll, GST and PST. I have two GST files to complete and two payroll. I do, of course, always have work to do, but those are the only deadlines aside from some reconciliations and reports for owners. I am confident that I will be able to enjoy my time away.
Tomorrow I will start packing and clean my spare room as a friend is coming Friday to stay over in order to go for an MRI.
All in all, it was a super hot day spent on productive indoor things.
I had a very productive day in spite of the heat which for a good long time was over 30
Of course today was the day I planned to work outside. I did trim all my Hollyhocks and trees, dug up all my bulbs in one bed and took the recycle away before I was too hot for me to keep going. I found out that it was one of our dear volunteers that had lost his phone which I had so I dropped it off, and he was very happy. Once home I took a good break in the coolness before going out to build the hutch I bought. I will build a stand and floor and attach it over the cat door to give Missy a critter proof space. It will be interesting to see if she uses it.
I was thinking how nice it is that so many of the same plants that Julie and I planted 4 years ago are blooming and beautiful
At Rotary lunch there was a Zoom of our MLA and fellow Rotarian, Tom Shypitka, presenting our wonderful, 94 year old, Bob Termuende, the King’s Coronation Medal for his service to the good of Canada. I video recorded it and pretty much managed not to shake as I was pretty emotional. Bob is one of the reasons that I joined Rotary. He and his wife, Orma, have been a stellar example of service for the greater good.
It was a tough act to follow, but Nathan Leuwen did an amazing job. He is a former Kootenay Ice goalie, current owner of the Cranbrook Bucks. I was lucky to sit beside him for lunch and we swapped Brendan Gallagher stories. He gave a talk about the upcoming season and read a letter from Jaden Fodchuk who aged out. It was very moving and he was one of my favourite players which made his backstory even more moving.
I came back to the office to a funny gift
I got a lot done and then headed to Rotary Park for the last night of Summer Sounds for the season. In spite of the foggy cool first part of the day, the event was warm and sunny. The crowd was massive and the energy was incredible. DJ Steve Schutz and then Heather Gemmell opened for Pretty for the People. The food vendors were amazing, Fisher Peak Brewing kept everyone hydrated, and the 50/50 winner will take home $1185 if and when it gets claimed.
Heather Gemmell
Heather Gemmell
Pretty for the People
A man came up and told me he was from Campbell River and began sharing about the performances he goes to in Spirit Square. Turns out he knows Lucas Schuller who puts it on and who was on my crew and works with us at VIMF. I messaged Lucas and we had a nice moment. I hold it to be fact that we can often connect if we are open to conversation with strangers.
I made it to the office in time for a long Zoom session with a client. It went well and over the day I knocked many things off my list. I also booked a hair appointment with Karissa a few days before I leave. I decided to try on short hairstyles and it made me laugh.
This may be the one
I gave Kirsten a duck for her jeep today.
I stopped at Encore for one drink and ended up eating and visiting with my client/friend , Chris, and his adorable son, Liam.
We had such a good visit while Liam and his friend were playing. We talked pretty straight up about relationships and cheating and apps and desire. If only I was 15 years younger lol. As I was leaving I chatted with an interesting man, Mark, at the bar. Should have dropped my number, just saying.
Oh, did I mention there is fresh snow on the mountains?!
I started the day going to Delamont Jewellers and getting Don to cut my ring off. Two reasons: I have been obsessed about the possibility of getting mugged and losing a finger due to the big one being stuck on, and I need to get a sapphire replaced in the small one that was behind it.
My elephant arrived for the art installation I am doing for Edfest and I can’t truly describe how squishy and wonderful it is
I had an Edfest meeting with the entire planning committee at 4 and I was in the middle of talking when my front magnetic clasp on my bra popped open. We all had a good laugh.
It was back to the office to run my last payroll of the day as the timesheet arrived while I was out.
I came home and unpacked my frozen Revive order, throwing the dry ice in the sink. I did enjoy the haze effect while I was making dinner
One of the best parts of the day was discussing a potential girls trip with Wendy for next September to London, Morocco and Portugal. I hope Colin thinks it would be a great idea and that we can make it happen.
Today was , once again, very productive. It started with a stand-off between me and Missy as I wouldn’t let her out without her new collar on that has a bell on it. Two reasons, for the birds, and so I can hear her coming. Turns out, had to wait until I got home when Tracey came and cuddled her while I put it on.
I line the temps in the southern hemisphere currently
This is a sweet gift that Jonas brought me from his trip to Sardinia
There came a time in the day when I asked Sean if it was Friday beverage time. We headed off to Heid-Out and enjoyed charcuterie and bevies on the patio, in spite of the wasps
It was nice to catch up, I miss our friendship
From there I headed to Encore with intention of grabbing a couple Growlers which I get included with my ‘Friends With Benefits’ membership. I ended up having a nice visit with many and stayed out the huge storm that passed through. I also bought a hat which will come on my travels.
The evening was spent playing Outsmarted with Mark. Games were much closer than normal
I had a very productive day. I got lots of work done, enjoyed Ukrainian lunch and Doug McPhee bio at Rotary, got my meds refilled before trip, bought a rechargeable whipper snipper for only $48 on clearance, and my auto cat feeder arrived which Missy seemed to take to right away.
Ooooh a new wish list item
I received a lot of info about the trip today and things are getting real!! I decided I had better try on my new bathing suit today and it will be fine, phew!
This morning and over the course of the day 13 clients already replied very positively to my rate change. The love was overwhelming. Most said that it was about time!
Ashlée stopped to drop me off some pink poppy and columbine seeds. It was great to see her.
I arranged cousin Donna to be Mom’s assistant in a pinch while I am away and Tracey’s son, Jesse is going to feed Missy. It is all coming together.
The EdFest meeting was long but we are Getty’s close to September 6 and it is really coming together.
I stopped at Safeway for popcorn and came home with two big bags. Tonight I am making Tiger Prawns and corn on the cob
This was a pretty good Monday. I got a great deal done in a good mood. At the end of my day I did the one thing that I have been putting off from a point of fear. I sent a letter to each of my clients explaining that I would be raising my rate substantially come October 1 and that I would be away for the middle of September and not taking a laptop with me. I reread it several times and then pushed send and got out of the office as quick as I could. Before I had even gotten my car started, I had three very positive and encouraging, dare I say, loving responses.  Tomorrow I will reply to each of them to let them know how much their support and continuing business means to me. Over the years many people whom I respect have told me I undervalue myself. This was a big step in moving towards the proper value if I am going to have good work/life balance. 
I suspect a good part of the depression or brainstorm that I have been going through is the fact that I have been mulling this over and I am glad that I set my deadline for today to send the emails out. I always feel better once the decision is made and communicated
Another positive part of today was hearing from my daughter that Lukas does not have skin cancer. Roger had to take him to a specialist in Vancouver because of all of the very large moles that he has but they cleared him. That was very stressful for everyone waiting to hear as he is not quite 15 yet.
Slept in, got many chores done including finally putting away my tent which has been on my clothesline for all the weather since I got back from travels. Also mowed the lawn and washed 35 shirts from my history. They were in a bin in my shed and began to smell old so they are now clean stacks of sizes and activities through the ‘80s-2000s. Concerts, festivals, tournaments and employment through the years. Some are wearable, some will become pillows or a memory quilt.
I crocheted until I ran out of a colour I had to order and after dinner, played two games of Outsmarted with Mark. I have also managed to binge almost all of Narcos. 3 episodes left, one of which I will watch before bed.
Ash remembered to give Rae the present from Jake and me.
My alarm came through the fog and the fog never left. I picked up Mom and brought her home, cleared out the fridge and got her to make a shopping list for her brother before I headed to Safeway to sort out her prescriptions. It was 11 by the time I made it to Moir Park for my 9 am volunteering. Everyone was super cool about it as so many had shown up. The lunch was amazing, prime rib and all the trimmings including au jus. I brought a serving to mom as beef dip is one of her favourites. And then I came home and gave in to the general malaise.
It was lovely to see Duncan
I did go through the car wash, and even that didn’t lift my spirits. I am also struggling to find someone to feed Missy while I’m away and just take any calls about Mom. Everyone is busy, unable or away. The dinner I made was light and easy. Good thing I hate wasting food as it is making me eat.
triumphgal 