The boys slept in which was a treat. I was up just after 8:30 and Sawyer followed not long after. After breakfast we three played Little Big Planet 2 until Bill came to pick them up. It was a lot of fun and the first time we’ve played 3 at a time. It made the game more fun in some ways.
I did a few chores and made a nice dinner and watched Beast Games.
It was so nice to spend time with the boys. I’m glad I thought to ask yesterday and that they were not busy. They are both good humans. I’m proud to be their Nana.
Started the beautiful blue sky day at Joanna Popoff’s funeral. There was a large crowd and it was a lovely Jewish service followed by refreshments and then a celebration of life. I did not stay for the whole thing but had some great conversations. My favourite part was when the Rabbi gave the Eulogy. He told the story of her and Ron meeting in a bar in Fort Mac. He was attracted to her big bold outfits, big hair, big smile, and big.. (pregnant pause).. everything. There was a delicious ripple of a chuckle through the place.
Will and Sawyer were dropped off mid afternoon. We sorted Lego and watch the Ms Marvel series, had spaghetti and red lobster biscuits and they played a round of Little Big Planet before heading to bed. they are good boys and we had a very nice time.
I was up early and at Memorial Arena by 9 o’clock. I haven’t been there since the 80s. I went to see Emerson play. He wants to be an NHL star He was the captain today and Double shifted so was one tired out little-year-old by the end of the game. He is on the U 11 rep team and they were playing the U 13 house team. There was a significant difference in size in the players, but the rep team won seven nothing.
I had a great visit with his grandma Tina she and I used to spend quite a bit of time out walking together and having little adventures and we have made a plan to get doing that again.
After that, I went up to the Rotary storage locker and got some toys to drop off to Monica for the children’s festival and dropped off a tote for Nancy for the spirit of the Rockies booth. Well, I was there. I brought her the bag of jackets to look at that. I think we should be using when we do outdoor events cause they show up so well.
And then came home and it was so nice out, in spite of waking up the snow this morning that I was inspired to do the last of my garden trimming ready for spring, and was quite shocked to see that my hollyhocks are already starting to grow. Once done that I came in and made a delicious spaghetti sauce. I’ve separated into three containers and look forward to having it for dinner tomorrow night. It was so nice to come home later in the evening and smell the deliciousness of it
I was 50-50 banker for the game tonight against West Kelowna Warriors. They are near the top of the league and we are near the bottom but we played really well and we’re holding our own till near the end of the third period when we lost 3 to 1. I had a lot of fun doing 50-50 and sold the winning ticket again. It was pink the rink night. I didn’t win anything as Kael and his friends threw my pucks for me trying to get closest to centre but he said he wasn’t even close that it was hard.
At around 11:15 this evening while I was sitting here watching High Potential (which I am really enjoying ) there was a loud crash sound in the park. I don’t know what it was and there’s been a lot of cars going back-and-forth but no emergency lights or sounds I guess I’ll wait to hear or look in the morning I’m definitely not going out there right now
I had a great deal of variety in my work day. I was given an interesting ‘compliment’ as well. Someone overheard me dealing with a client that I just met and it’s a long story but apparently I came across very caring and compassionate. It was nice to see that side of me…
There was a drop in creator time at makerSpace and I let Rae know earlier in the day. She showed up with Will, Sawyer and Atlas made fun things including gifts for me. Sawyer made me earrings and Will gave me Lego shaped pieces for my hoodie strings.
When I was finished all my payroll I picked up Rae and we went to Fenwick and Baker for dinner before hitting up Shoppers Drug Mart for a one day deal on eggs and butter. It was a great visit.
I came home and watched The Life of Chuck which had some very lovely moments.
today was a joint meeting between the two Rotary clubs and the Chamber for The Mayor’s Lunch. His honour Mayor Way e Price did a good job and kept on time. The food was good and the only downside was that the water ran brown at the Heritage so we couldn’t have any. Good thing there were so many city employees there.
Afterward I went to meet with Dave and we had a good long visit before he offered to be a $5000 sponsor! What a generous friend. He said he did it for the community and for me.
Brett, Carl, Ryan, and I were Three Men & a Little Lady and we tied for Second which the other team bowed out of the tie breaker so we got a $25 GC to Firehall. Looks like a Friday beer is in our future.
Brett and I sat around after having a ‘therapy’ session. He agrees we are clearly both undiagnosed somewhere on the spectrum. Labels are not necessary, it’s just nice to hang with someone else who ‘speaks’ spectrum. He and his family have become dear friends.
The negative part of the day was finding out after the fact that TM Roberts, Sawyer’s school was put on lockdown this afternoon due to a domestic in the house next-door that involved a gun. That incident followed on the heels of the kids being talked to this morning about the massacre in Tumbler Ridge. Those poor kids. Sawyer said they didn’t know whether the person with the gun was in the school or not. It must’ve been very scary. Rae is encouraging him to talk about it but we are also all very upset that someone told him that the shooter had killed her mom and younger brother which very much upset Sawyer. That was not information that he should’ve learned at school. He said it was his teacher, but we don’t know for sure.
I struggled today because I am so angry that the greatest percentage of headlines about the shooting in Tumble Ridge include the word ‘ trans’ in some way. My first thought when I heard them describe the shooter as a person in a dress with brown hair was that it was likely a male or a male presenting as female. I understood their hesitancy to say anything more without confirmation. We have since learned that it was in fact, an 18-year-old, born male, choosing she/her pronouns. I can only imagine without excusing the horror of this crime that that child was bullied living in a town of 2400 in a northern BC location. They would have been very, very different. We all have to own part of what occurred. I won’t back down for that, but I’m finding myself staying quite quiet on this subject.
It hurts me so much, too feel all the fields of that community with the loss and the fear that they now carry as well as whatever drove that poor soul to do what they did. Mental illness is a bitch and it doesn’t have anything to do with being ‘trans’
A small Northern BC city of 2400 was rocked today by a mass shooter at the high school. All together at least 9 plus shooter are dead and 27 injured. It is a terrible tragedy and few details are available yet. So so terribly sad
I volunteered for the Winter Ale show tonight. Beckham Barr opened and he was so very good and only 15!
Headliner was Dave McCann who was joined by local friend, Ethan Askey. They are both brilliant and I loved the singer songwriter vibe even if the night went an hour longer than it was supposed to.
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
triumphgal 