triumphgal

Well, that is what my calendar says. MusicFest is over, I have driven home, taking two days to sleep and recover and am now back at my desk. Sigh, if only. Now I say that mostly because I miss the adventure, the hugs, the love of my friends I get to see every year. In reality, my life has changed for the better and that may not have happened so smoothly if it hadn’t been for Covid-19. I am fine tuning the life I have to suit the needs of my physical and mental health and it was really possible because of this break in the world’s broadcasting system. Don’t get me wrong, I am highly anticipating my part in the next Festival, but for now it is good I have been at my new desk the last two weeks. And it seems like every day I am happier for that. My pictures tell a different story…

It’s like a game to see what fell off the wall each day!

I had actual client visits and managed to swap between and accomplish what I set out to do without putting too much pressure on myself. Everyone seems to love my office and it was very sweet at the day’s end when the janitor, George, came to my door to say he could see I really respected where I worked and loved my space as I had made it so beautiful. My office has always been a reflection of me, to some people’s scorn. I spend a large chunk of my life there, I want it to soothe me and create a space for doing my best.

Part way through the day I got a notice from Warner Music Goup that they had released the claim on the music in a video I took in December 2016 of Mau on my Dance Dance Revolution Game to Love Shack. Took them long enough to realize that by owning the game I had the rights.

Diane braided my hair and then noticed the soffit was askew so set out to fix it. She used the BBQ rotisserie which has a very pointy end aimed at Sean. Made us laugh for sure.

Played crib, ate good food and finished up the night with a Paralyzer, not bad for Hump Day.

I was at the office again before 10, having done my dishes, a load of laundry washed and hung on the line and everything watered. I love taking my bike on these cool crisp mornings. Apparently there was frost in some spots last night!! I only mention the time I started actually working as it is 10:42 pm and I just finished paying remittances for a client who texted me a little while ago with his bank info. I just can’t file late, no sense giving the government any more than they ask for.

Super productive day including coffee and snacks from Cobbs, nummy. After work I got on my bike and it automatically headed down the strip. I could feel the highway calling so I decided I probably should get gas and that the best place to do that would be in Marysville, a suburb of Kimberley, a 25 Km ride away. Once I got there I swung up in front of my cousin Donna’s place and texted her a pic of the front of her house so she would come out. We had a long and wonderful driveway visit. It helped that I was wearing a full faced helmet. We used to go for lunch semi-regularly but I haven’t seen her since the beginning of March. It was a good catch-up.

Grabbed gas, all $6.86 worth and headed home. I was stunned by the statistic of only 2 of 9 riders I passed giving me a wave or the rubber down sign. I always do that or if I see a woman rider the ‘tits up’ sign. Arm across the chest and big thumbs up. I don’t know if most of them were newbies who either don’t know the courtesy and connection or are too new to take a hand off the bars. OR are they just too cool for school. I am not a fan of that idea. We are a community out there on two wheels and should act accordingly. I really am in the mood for a long ride soon. Watered all my plants, brought the laundry in and planted the raspberry canes Rae-Anne dropped off for me. Then it was time to make chicken nachos, begin to watch a show and then get back to my desk lol. It really is great to be comfortable to work both at home and in the office and access the same info.

I think I will sleep well soon after all that fresh air and a relatively stressless day.

Oh and it is also Bastille Day and my kid brother’s 54th b’day.

https://g.co/kgs/FVcESP in case you don’t know about Bastille Day

I figure that should be the title of this saga for a bit. I seem to be the extra member of their family with my own home to go to after all the fun. Today I woke way before my alarm so got ready and puttered a bit before jumping on my Triumph and heading to the office. It was perfectly cool and still. Felt so refreshed and part of me just wanted to keep riding. I was there before 8:30, fussed at things until around 9:30 and then got 10 solid hours of work in before I got a text from Diane wondering why I hadn’t called her after work. I was still there, lol. She invited me over for leftovers and crib. Two things I enjoy very much along with the good music and laughs.

Rae-Anne stopped by to check out my new office, a client came by there as well today. It feels very good to have a convenient, nice space to welcome people. And I figured out what I want for my door sign today as well. I have other responsibilities to the Theatre and Tupperware but tonight I just wanted to relax, tomorrow is another day.

Woke with plenty of time to get ready for our ABC Zoom meeting. All of the A, 2 each of B & C attended. It was lovely to catch up. It really is amazing that 6.5 years after the trip we all bonded on led to this lasting friendship. We spent time in Peru in 2013 and are all living in at least four time zones and yet we have for the most part managed to stay connected. Travel really does broaden ones world and mind if you let it.

After that I did a bunch of work and then packed up my home office to get ready to move to the Groundfloor. later in the afternoon Diane came and brought me there with all my stuff. We spent time organizing and connecting scanners and printers and I was grateful to have an extra set of hands.

She dropped me at home and I made fried rice to being there for dinner. Hung out together for the evening with Aiden as my partner for crib. We got skunked! That is not allowed, we usually win. Oh well keeps the competition going.

It was getting late and time to come home and that was just as well because my guts were unhappy with something. I know Sean was careful not to put any peppers in the hamburger meat for mine. I really am not sure what’s been going on with my digestive system the last week or two so I’m just going to start drinking more water and see how it goes. i’m feeling a bit better now so will try to head to bed after a couple more tums.

I realized today that I set my own stresses. I have not been put upon in any way by my new contractor but I seem to impose stress on myself to be.. extra. I think it is the office vibe I have been in for the last couple years and I need to relax in to the calmer, more relaxed vibe of the space I am now in. People are grateful that I am there and I need to lean into that and just get it done. I rocked it today and my office is getting more presentable and more importantly, more efficient and organized. I am learning where to concentrate my efforts and that is an important stage in growth of any kind.

I decided to give back the pullover hoodie I was given yesterday as I felt it would go unused and could be put to better use. By the end of the day, the manager had given me his zip up grey one which I really loved in exchange for me having given up mine earlier. Good Karma. I was able to take care of the things that were stressing me for Monday and walk out of there good for the weekend (although I will be back with Diane to decorate tomorrow)

I joined the Campbells for pizza night and then rushed home to set up my iPad to Chromecast to my TV so I could watch the Vancouver Island MusicFest Live stream complete with sent in memories, recorded and archived performances. I had spent a good part of my day preparing an album of memories from 2010-2019 to share on Facebook and then settled in for the watch. Part way in Ashlée and Ken joined me and that was fun. Sharing the last 5 years of memories with my daughter was a bonus. I think we may have created a drinking game as well. Take a drink when you hear Marnée, lol. I was blessed to be recognized. The whole thing left me a little vaklempt as it should have been opening day but I will hold on to all the emotion until I can hug my friends again. And truth be told, it all ws as it needed to be for me. I would not have been able to take this new contract if I had been committed this year to Vimf. There was an allowable amount of joy being able to have a glass or three of wine while enjoying the virtual Festival. Normally I go all weekend without drinking due to my responsibilities.

Oh and remember that I said there will be Llamas… (he could not find it for a very long time) I put one on all present co-workers apparatus to leave my mark 🙂

I woke up after my second night of great sleep and travel dreams. I often lucid dream to the point of being exhausted when I awake and left wondering when I see someone if the conversation I remember was only in my dreams. Very disconcerting. I have been having some awesome motorcycle trips in my sleep. Even one in England, with my Triumph so that was weird… and pleasant at the same time.

I did get up and at it this morning, feeling very accomplished by the time I headed to the GroundFloor which I will just call my office from now on as it got set up today!!! Yes there was far too much to do and we ended up moving a poop-ton while switching out one office to the other but the manager’s son, Shea was my hero when he showed up to borrow his Dad’s truck and stayed a couple hours to help. I really wouldn’t have come out of it with my sanity if it hadn’t been for him. And Cindy took over fixing up the office I moved from for the guy who was going to be using it. All the while Sean, Cindy and I were finding and supplying paperwork for their audit. The four of us literally moved mountains today. And I was given a new to all of us GroundFloor hoodie which is lovely, as modeled a by the ladies who work there.

I will admit to being exhausted and emotional by the end of it all. I may have been too cocky about yesterday and am earing out a little. Still looking forward to tomorrow. Honestly, I can’t wait to have my name on the door. After doing this for so many years, with a registered name since 1994, this will be the first time with a ‘real’, not in a spare room or corner of my bedroom, office. I feel all grown up!

I had promised to meet with my friend Kimberly who played my daughter in The Tin Woman in the fall of 2018 for Cranbrook Community Theatre. She has started a new business as The Tattooed Unicorn and is a very talented artist. I look forward to her doing one for me. She needed advice and assistance to keep her books and I am happy to take her on as a client.

We had such a lovely time and I want to steal her dog.. dang, could I be a Pommy mom? I could bring her to work…

Seconds after she left, having been chased away by mosquitoes, the sky opened up again. We have had an unusual amount of rain for this area but you know, maybe it is my coastal upbringing speaking but I am ok with it. I am not getting the riding in I would like to but I didn’t the last two years because of the choking wildfire smoke in the air. I do prefer this.

I am planning to personalize my office tomorrow. Will have to get some 3m sticker hooks so as not to hurt the walls. There will be Llamas….

Today was built on 1 million little successes. I was multipurpose Marnée, at one point Forgetting what computer I was signing into and having to stop and think about my password. I basically worked out of three different offices today doing things like payroll and training and reconciling, learning new software and assessing what needed to be done. I am challenged when I don’t know what I don’t know.

The upside is that instead of losing sleep over it I find myself wanting to go to bed so that I can start it all over again tomorrow. I think that must be a very good sign because in spite of all the great in today there were some really cruddy things too but they didn’t win.

Sweet dreams or happy Thursday depending when you are reading, thanks for being here.

I am beginning to enjoy wearing fun summer casual office clothes again. Shoes that are cute and cropped pants put a spring in my step. Of course the gorgeous day of summer yesterday was a torrential rainfall this morning but then gorgeous again by afternoon. I guess we’re having a late spring

Worked a lot from home this morning before heading to the Ground Floor. Still waiting for computer things to be completed there and can set up new office. We all had a good laugh today at my mismatched furniture as every other office is all matchy and perfect. The thing is, I am getting a good deal and am happy to have a space. And as I said to Sean, you’ve seen my house, this will be all personalized soon. He said there would be trolls… for the record I have never owned a troll, there will be Llamas.

Got a weird request today. I know it is all coincidental but the fact that I mentioned my dead friend, Matt and Hank Williams yesterday and then get a request from Matt on FaceBook today is a little strange.

I also came home to get my mail and there was an addressed to me sample pack of a smoking cessation aid. I do not know who thinks I smoke still but I wonder if they know how bad I have been craving lately… spooky.

Do you ever just obsess on something to the point that you aren’t sure what is true and what you made up? I mean there is nothing particular this day but I have been known lately to just pick a thread in my head and watch things unravel. I think it happens a lot in my sleep and the next day I worry I have said or done or not said or done something. I am back to making lists. Until I find my groove, lists I shall write and tick off.

Honestly, I can’t believe this was a Monday. I enjoyed all the things I attempted today. I feel as though I am being supported and encouraged in this new direction. I really do believe the people I am working for and with appreciate what I bring to the table and are open to thinking outside the box. To interact with humans who respect each other, encourage each other and work as a team is lovely. The ability to brainstorm together to find solutions that will work for all is a gift. And I even have a new office space to work out of that will be locked up and give me the ability to leave things secured and safe with 24/7 access. The Ground Floor is pretty cool with Kevo locks and dimmable overheads in each office.

Had a funny moment today when I heard Maura O’Connell coming out of my iPod but out of the corner of my eye saw Hank Williams. As that was one of my friend Matt’s biggest influences, I figure he was just approving of my choices from beyond.

I came home to make dinner for the Campbell family. It was nice to have my other family over for the first time. As I was prepping I thought about the job I had applied for and that I should probably give a courtesy email that I was not available currently when my phone rang and it was one of the women who interviewed me. Seems with all the unknowns still they will likely not be filling it until the Fall and didn’t want to leave me hanging. I did keep my hat in the ring as I will know better what my capacity is by then. A .6 job with pension and benefits still sounds enticing but really it is a plan B. I believe I will be successful at this Sole-Proprietor business.

Dinner was fun, the guys played crib as Zoë played in the pool and Diane and I caught up on the day. It seems odd not to be working with her anymore but for the organization her husband manages as well as where she works. It does help me that she is back having been off the same length of ttime as I was working from home due to a lack of childcare.

I sorted and delivered another order of Tupperware, watered all my plants, did the dishes and sat down to watch my 90 Day Fiancé shows with the small AC running. It was really, really hot in here. It feels good to look forward to work tomorrow. One of the projects I am working on is especially challenging and that is what I thrive on. It is even more important as this is the first time in 12 years I have a full 23 days in July to get my ‘real work’ done. I miss my ViMf peeps though.

I did not miss wearing a bra, especially on a hot day.

I awoke to a gentle lick on the back of my hand that was hanging out of the covers and I knew instantly that Layla needed to go out. The shocking part was that the boys were still sleeping! 10.5 and 13 and still asleep at 8 am was a shock! I usually have to choose carefully the nights the grands are staying over based on how much sleep I need (yes I see the selfish in that)

I sat and had a coffee before they found their way in and had breakfast before having fun playing my Disney Infinity on PS3. I did laundry and putzed around until it was time for lunch including making an experimental cake with frozen fruit, a cake mix and a can of pop…

Grilled sandwiches and a bowl of nummy and they were on their way home. I hung some more clothes and puttered around the yard until my friend Maureen showed up for a visit. We sat in the yard, drank wine and caught up. It was exactly what this soul needed and I already look forward to next time!!

The next project was to complete a video for MusicFest as they are putting something together for next Friday which would have been opening night and asked for submissions. It was fun to go through everything and find all things that pertained to my vimf connection. I am sure there is more but the deadline is tomorrow and I didn’t want to miss out.

When I was done it was time to take Layla home. As soon as I picked up her bed she headed for the car.

I had a great visit catching up and am actually looking forward to this fresh new week coming. I have invited all the Campbells for dinner tomorrow night as it is Diane’s first day back at the office and Zoë’s at daycare since mid-March.

I miss Layla… nope I do not need a dog.. no really. Sigh, maybe a service dog.

This morning was pretty laid back until I had a visit from the wine fairy. For some time now I have been subscribed to nakedwines.com and shipping to my son-in-law, Ken who lives in Kalispell until they get him status here in canada. Unfortunately, due to Covid I cancelled my contract as I had two cases stuck with him. He brought one case with him as I said I would pay the duty regardless. He usually just brings the duty free two bottles with him. Turns out they were more interested in his stay than what he was bringing which was good for me. Included in the case of random bottles of red wine were the cans of white I decide to try on a whim. I will say, the wine was good but out of a can was odd. I put the next one into a glass.

Later in the day, I watched The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt movie with choose your own options and I have to admit I really liked the interaction. I watched all the options, and found myself fascinated by the production of it all. My neighbour gave me some plants she started: bamboo, perennial sunflower and a peach coloured peony. I planted them and hope for the best.

Lukas was the first to arrive and he tried to take Layla for a walk but she just kept looking back for me so we all went. When we returned he was sitting beside her on the front steps when the neighbour came over for a chat and Layla started barking which was so strange. I can only imagine she was protecting Lukas.

Everyone else arrived, decorations were hung, bevies were poured, BBQ, fire pit and swimming and we were celebrating Ken being with us and having a celebration of The 4th of July.

Ken is my son-in-law who is an American citizen. He moved from Michigan to Kalispell, Montana to be nearer to Ashlée before their wedding. They have been separated for 189 days due to Covid-19 as he was at his home when the lockdown happened. They finally allowed spouses to cross and he came in time to have 14 days isolation at Ashlée’s apartment while she stayed at her Dad’s before today so we could all be together. I wish we could have had fire works and more but we are just glad he is here now and under Dr. Bonnie’s (BC Top Dr) care with the rest of us.

It was fun to eat and drink and chat and visit, still in very separate little pods in my yard for the better part. The neighour across the way offered her Schwinn Tricycle and extra helmets and other games that just added to the fun. The only one to get hurt was Layla as she was enjoying her ride with Sawyer and then decided she was done but the leap down was bigger that she realized. She is good now and I already let her Mom know Auntie Marnée broke her.

Gene and Lukas stayed and played Disney Infinity before heading to bed in my guest tent. They are very thrilled to be sleeping out there. It is nice the boys are getting older too, it takes us in to new adventures.

It has been… interesting these first three days of my new schedule. I am used to the 8-4:30 minimum, living in 6 minute increments to get in my 8 hours to earn my pay. The song 9-5 hits home for a lot of people. I am still too aware of the time, feel stressed if I stop to talk, etc. I am now on a productivity based schedule and it is much healthier for me but will take time to not cause anxiety. I must say the 6 or 8 clients I have dealt with the last two days have been amazing and I am grateful. It will be interesting to see what my thoughts are a month in.

I have been working out of The Ground Floor shared workspace the last two days and the people are cool (and so is the air), the space is gorgeous and most everyone seems happy to be there. The manager, Cindy has been a great help to make me feel welcome and in exchange I have been training her on Sage software. She even cleaned up the mess poor Layla left on the entry carpet! (yes I owe her)

Speaking of Layla, she once again made me laugh. We take the long way round my yard to the door so that she will have time to do her business on the way. She never makes a peep, follows me around like Mary with her lamb and is a gentle soul. I may have found her nemesis though… as we rounded the corner she started barking and it took me a minute to realize it was at the inflatable Llama! I calmed her and showed her it was not real and she was fine. I mean, she really did not like it in ‘her’ yard. Funny girl, no wonder her people love her so.

I need a day off. I have been doing too many things, not making much time to just rest. It is a habit I fall into quickly when self-employed. This will change, I will settle in. Today did end up with a lot going on though especially in the wake of isolation.

Date book:

• Run a payroll
• Pay for Crown
• Go to client office
• return home to let dog out
• Go to client office with dog
• go back home to make changes to another client payroll due to wrong info given
• Fix a bunch of other things while at it.
• Go back to client office. Realize on zero range left in fuel tank, fill up and decide it is too late to accomplish anything, make plan to return tomorrow.
• Deliver around town the Tupperware that arrived
• return home to spend a silly amount of time setting up new BlueCurve TV & Internet system
• Go to Strata Council meeting
• finish setting up Internet while eating cold chicken
• Finish just in time for Tupperware training Zoom meeting that takes over 2 hours.

It is now after 10 and I wish I had whiskey…

Honestly, the best part of my day was receiving a card in the mail from the student my New Westminster Secondary School Grad Class gave a bursary to in honour of our 40th Reunion that was supposed to happen this year,

and the sound of something happening in the back seat which turned out to be that Layla had rolled down the window and put her head out. She did the same thing on both trips, cracked me up completely.

Canada Day has always been a family day for me. For years it was spent with my Dad and then my brother with friends and family on the water watching the fireworks most often in Ganges Harbour off Salt Spring Island. Moving to Bella Bella made the day more stressful as colonialism split the ranks. I understand and when the anthem says Our Home AND Native Land it should say ON but I am still distinctly proud to answer the question, where are you from? No nation on this planet has a perfect record for the way it has treated others at some point in history. I would not want to hide the horrble (recent) history we have with residential schools and cultural abolishment or the Japanese Internment just to name two. I would like to think we are still growing and awakening to our horror, owning our past and making restitution, choosing to be better. Our country is young comparatively and we must see the need for change and the power in growth and unity.

I suspect in my lifetime there will be many many changes, some good, some a few steps backward as people often find change difficult. Imagine though if change was not difficult but near to impossible, if your life was literally shaped by the ugliness inflicted on your immediate ancestors and generations before them. You would be bitter, you would want a revolution, you would want what was rightfully yours.

To have what was yours returned, many need to give up their entitlement. This is the unsettling part for many… what will it cost me to do what is right?

But I ask you this… what will it cost us all if we don’t. The answer lies in the future, we are making toddler steps towards it. We need help, we need to ask the hard questions and be ready to hear the answers. I don’t have them but I am listening….

I have faith in the next generation. They are smart and aware and connected and could move mountains. I want to live long enough to see everyone in this country proud to say: I AM CANADIAN

Note: I was going to write about Danika & Emmy coming for coffee this morning, about adventures with Layla (the dog I am sitting), mowing again before the storm, the crazy wind that rattled the house, going for dinner with Rae-Anne to catch up on month’s of not doing that, watching Mudbound which is not for the faint of heart.. but what came out was what I ended up writing. It was quite the first day of my new life, not without stress, but when I flipped the calendar this morning, I liked what it said. And then D & E blessed me with fresh picked strawberries!

This will be short and sweet as I am very tired. I will likely wax poetic tomorrow.

– up and at the desk, confirming what time off I have left. Need to put in 2.5 hrs.

– The Campbell’s drop off Layla as they are heading to Alberta for vacation. we hit it off, she whines a little, wistfully staring at the door but eventually settles at my feet as I work

– I calculate I only have to work 2.5ish hours today.

– donations keep rolling in for our 40 year reunion bursary.

– Tupperware order mostly arrives and I organize and ready for drop offs

– Rae-Anne arrives with the best labeled wine she could find for the occasion

– my crown arrives in the nick of time. No benefits after midnight.

– I deliver Tupperware and return home to Layla who has dinner while I am making mine and when I sit down I notice she has used my living room carpet as her lawn I can’t really scold her as we are missing an interpreter of “I have to go” signs.

– I sit on the couch and think about how it feels that I may never be on someone else’s payroll again. I am of the age that this may be my last Bounce.

I AM GOOD WITH THAT!!!

I will speak more tomorrow, I have to go release the hound, good night

I can often tell how busy my day was with ordinary sorts of things by the decided lasck of photos. Today, the only pic I took was to identify a weevil with my bug app. Pretty exciting, right? Actually, I wasn’t far into my day when I received a distress call and rushed to my new client whose contract was there to be signed. Smart cookie, he was. He got me to sign the contract and then told me his payroll was in limbo due to an employee who was MIA. I had rushed over for info and assistance and then realized my day was getting complicated so came home again to finish up the payroll and files i was in the middle of. I then returned to the external client and spent 5 hours trying to understand the situation, follow the rabbit trail and get all bills as well as payroll done. by 8:15 it was done. I am worn out. My friend made me dinner and we played some fun card games before I came home to lick my wounds and gather my thoughts about tomorrow.

Over cards I got emotional, even eye-leaked a little as I realized how much it mattered that tomorrow may realistically be the last day of my employed career for life and it is about to go unrecognized. It seems that my leaving the firm has been so seamless, no one seems to care. I will get over it but for now I am sad and a part of me wants to respond inappropriately, but I won’t.

It will be just another last day of the month to them but for me, like many other things about 2020, I will remember 06-30-20 for what it was… the last day of ‘the man’

Here’s to all the future days of ‘the woman’

Awoke this morning to Tickle Me Elmo laughing his fool head off. The Grands aged 5 and 8 find him hilarious. They came and snuggled while watching a little Netflix and then we had breakfast and played Little Big Planet. Sawyer has really improved and it is so much more fun with three players. There was much celebration when we beat a boss. Rae came and got them and I began a day that left me feeling as though I was a bit of a puppy following a crazy trail. I would set out to do one thing and end up doing 4 others instead. I did however get a lot done that I have wanted/needed to for some time. Putting my fresh washed bedding out on the clothesline once the rain stopped was especially satisfying.

I need new windows throughout the trailer. So far I have only managed the smaller kitchen one and I haven’t trimmed out the inside yet as it requires a bunch of work on the wall behind the sink to accomplish. One of my dream items would be the fancy ass windows with the blinds on the inside. That is not on my budget list but fantasy. When I was visiting in Blind Bay at the beginning of the month I saw their papery blinds and was intrigued. I came home and measured and ordered black out ones for the bedrooma nd regular for the rest of the house from IKEA. They arrived the other day and I took the time to install a bunch of them today. I forgot that my windows are double paned, flush mounted and it took me a minute to decide I could take the inner panes out, clean everything, install the blinds and replace the glass. Trailer Park Fancy Ass Blinds! I am really impressed with them and I was able to cut them to allow the part where the window is usually opened to to be raised and lowered as needed. The effect was exactly what I wanted, lots of light and privacy or lots of dark and privacy in the case of the bedroom. Hobo Mom strikes again. Budget reno until I can afford the real one.

I spent an hour or so researching the difference between Federal and Provincial employee standards and regulations for a client. It was pretty interesting actually. Also interesting how it is decided which one has authority. I still find myself amazed that someone respects my opinion on these matters but it’s probably that old Imposter Syndrome sneaking in.

im·pos·tor syn·dromenounnoun: imposter syndrome

1. the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.”people suffering from impostor syndrome may be at increased risk of anxiety”

I wear that one often, second guess myself and really beat myself up if I make a mistake.

Finally realized I was hungry and that it was already 8 pm so I made a lovely dinner and settled to watch my 90 Day Fiancé shows. I wasn’t getting tired and looked at the can I was drinking. I like Stevia drinks but this last batch I ordered turned out to be an energy drink with added caffeine. Am just starting to get tired now and it is after midnight, sigh.

The best part of my day was actually finding out my name had finally been changed on my PayPal account that I have had since 2002. It was still under my last married name and I have tried and tried to change it but I kept being asked to send a copy of the document that changed it. We don’t have that in Canada, I am who is on my birth certificate and I assumed my husband’s name by tradition. I went back to my maiden name as quick as I could when we split oh so many years ago. Finally I was able to send them a photo of my Driver’s License and today the change came through. Woot! No more married name on anything. That took even loger than getting divorced which is really saying something! I have to thank my Grad class of 1980 for spurring me on to getting it completed as I am collecting the money we promised as a Bursary for a 2020 Graduate of New Westminster Secondary School.

Spent the better part of my day completing the installation of my clothesline. I uninstalled a section of the porch railing and mostly installed the new swinging gate which works brilliantly and allows me to access the line easily. I then hung clothes!! Next I put together the trellis arch and gate for the front entry. I needed to put it in place and plan the fence and landscaping that will go with it ultimately. Once I know exactly what is what i will level and secure it all properly. For now, it is exactly what I wanted.

My son-in-law, Roger asked if I could take 2 of the 4 boys overnight as he and Rae-Anne wanted to celebrate their anniversary. 17th, that makes me officially feel older. Lukas was going to the other grands and Gene had just been here so Will and Sawyer it was. I had placed my first PC Express order to be picked up at 5 so I grabbed them on the way. Will was quite stressed to learn Roger had sent along marinated chicken for me to throw in the oven (Sawyer was disconcerted at the concept of throwing things in the oven) as Nana always has a shrimp ring for them. His faith in Nana was valid as I had taken the last one I had out of the freezer.

They were so helpful bringing in and double checking all the groceries. This was imperative as there had been a mix up with them not using the $130 of PC Points I had as requested. I had decided to treat myself to a sodastream on sale and new pool pals with that so ended up going into the store after all but the problem was solved quickly and I got 20000 bonus points for the trouble.

The boys played in the pool for a bit and then came in to shower, get jammies on and have a lovely dinner together. They do play well together. It has been so long since they have been inside here that Will seemed in awe of the changes to what he remembered and Sawyer lit up and said oh I remember my little guitar..

They went to bed listening to Disney Stories on Audible while I watched Miss Virginia. I may have said this on repeat but I love movies based on true stories. She overcame her fear to take away fear and so much more for others. Inspiring. (the young man who plays her son is Young Randall in This Is Us)

All in all a very good day.